Historiographical transformation of Silat Mandar from West Sulawesi to the Thousand Island

Silat Mandar is an intangible cultural heritage that records the migration and socio-cultural adaptation of the Mandar people to the Thousand Islands. This study examines the historiographical transformation of Silat Mandar as it migrated from its place of origin in West Sulawesi to the Thousand Islands, Jakarta. Employing a qualitative descriptive method with ethnohistorical and performative approaches, the research traces how oral traditions, mantras, and rhythmic movements of the martial art have been recontextualised in the diaspora setting. The findings show that historiographical transformation occurs through an adjustment of performance function from a magical-communal ritual and ancient maritime identity toward a form of entertainment and a medium for reinforcing diaspora solidarity in an urban space. Although the form has been simplified to meet the demands of modern entertainment, the intrinsic values of Silat Mandar have been sustained as collective memory that affirms the cultural existence of the Mandar ethnic group. The study concludes that this transformation does not represent a mere shallowing of culture, but rather an adaptive strategy for extending tradition across geographical and temporal boundaries.