Indonesia to build replica of Balla Lompoa Palace in South Africa

Indonesia will construct a replica of Balla Lompoa, the former royal palace of the Gowa Kingdom in South Sulawesi, in Cape Town, South Africa. The initiative is intended to promote Indonesian culture abroad and reinforce historical ties with the region, the Ministry of Culture confirmed.

The Ministry’s Director General of Cultural Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cooperation, Endah Renoastuti, said the project is targeted for implementation in 2025 or 2026. She noted its timing coincides with South Africa’s G20 presidency this year and the 400th anniversary of the birth of Sheikh Yusuf next year. This is reported by Antara News.

Renoastuti explained that the replica would serve both as a cultural showcase and a place of connection for the Indonesian diaspora. She added that the ministry is prepared to collaborate with private partners through the newly formed Indonesian Heritage Agency, which oversees museums and cultural heritage projects.

Gowa District Head Sitti Husniah Talenrang welcomed the plan, stressing that the palace replica would represent more than architecture, acting as a symbol of heritage for descendants of the Gowa diaspora.