Walima Tradition

Walima is a celebration ceremony carried out by the people in Gorontalo, Indonesia which is carried out on the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, which is the 12th of Rabiul Awal in the Hijriyah year. This celebration is done by making walima cakes, namely Kolombengi and other traditional Gorontalo cakes in large quantities which are then arranged to form buildings such as houses or mosques, to be then paraded around the city. After being paraded, the walima cake was distributed to the residents. This celebration is a form of gratitude for the birth of the Prophet Muhammad as the last prophet.

Figure 1. Santri at Bubohu Village in Gorontalo Regency brought cakes.

Walima is one of the old traditions during the Islamic kingdoms, which has been carried out from generation to generation. This walima tradition is thought to have existed since Gorontalo came to know Islam, namely in the 17th century. Usually two or one days, even on the D-day of the event, which is on the 12th of Rabiul Awal, the mosques in Gorontalo without an order to immediately carry out this tradition. The people of each region in Gorontalo prepare traditional cakes such as Kolombengi, Curuti, Buludeli, and wapili.

Figure 2. Toyopo is a material made from woven coconut leaves which is used to put food to be served in the walima tradition (Photo: Glenna Kusnadi).

It is estimated that since 1673, when the Gorontalo kingdom established the motto "customs based on syara' and syara' based on the Qur’an", since then the walima tradition has been carried out by the community. Until now, this long-standing tradition is still well preserved.