October 10, 2023

Exploring Southeast Asian manuscripts is a fascinating journey through a rich tapestry steeped in history and culture. On 5 October 2023, Universitas Muslim Indonesia (UMI, Makassar) and NUS Libraries signed an agreement to establish a framework for sharing resources and expertise and to launch a collaboration for interdisciplinary studies and academic innovation through the preservation,  digitization, and open access to Bugis-Makassar manuscripts. Within this framework, UMI donated the original Daeng Paduppa Manuscript to NUS Libraries. In partnership with researchers from the Jusuf Kalla Research Center for Bugis-Makassar Cultural Studies at UMI, Dr Mohammed Effendy, who initiated the agreement between UMI and NUS Libraries, will lead the translation of the Daeng Paduppa Manuscript from Bugis language to Indonesian language, and from Indonesian language to English language. This collaboration will deepen our understanding of Singapore’s historical, cultural and economic links within Southeast Asia and with the Bugis-Makassar communities of Sulawesi in particular.