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Like some other tribes of Indonesia, Bugis people are well known for their diaspora, not only in their home country but also in numerous parts of the globe. Thanks to their diaspora, many of them have made enormous achievements in their careers, either as businessmen, politicians, scholars, military officers and state bureaucrats. Therefore, it is not surprising to see that one of their leading figures, Prof. B.J. Habibie, became the president of the state. So far, he is the only non-Javanese leader to take this highest post in the state bureaucracy. As a national leader, Habibie had an impressive performance. Appeared as a devout and intellectual Muslim, he was idealized as a promising leader. This is the reason why he was approved to be the first chairman of ICMI, the Association of All Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals. Nevertheless, when he finished his presidency, he soon left his country, to stay in Germany together with his family. Many people wonder whether or not he was really sincere in maintaining the spirit of Indonesian nationalism. It will be very interesting to examine how Bugis perceive their diaspora and their commitment to the idea of Indonesian nationalism.
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Jointly organized by IIAS the Netherlands and The State Institute of Islamic Studies, Makassar