From November 13th to 16th, 2022, the Mappalili ritual took place in Segeri sub-district, Pangkajene and Islands Regency. This annual ritual is held when the process of planting rice will begin. Mappalili is a ritual to ask the Creator so that rice plants will be kept away from pests, get sufficient water, grow fertile and provide prosperity to the community. Mapalilili is identified by going around carrying Arajang, an heirloom object that resembles a traditional rice plow. The Mappalili ritual is divided into several sessions. The first session is Matteddu Arajang (preparing the Arajang), then mappalesso Arajang ( placing the Arajang) Mallekke Wae (taking water), Maddewata (calling the Ancestral Spirit), Maqgiri (Bissu dance that shows the invincibility of bissu from sharp objects) then Maqjori ( parading the Arajang). After the process, Arajang will be washed again and then placed in a shelter and put back to sleep.
This Mappalili ritual then became an independent study project of a foreign student from the School For International Training United States (SIT Stduy Abroad Balu Indonesia) named Ella. Through the international office, Unhas then appointed the Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Hasanuddin University to assist the student in researching bissu in Segeri District, Pangkajene and Kepuluaan. Burhan Kadir, S.S., M.A., was assigned as a supervisor from the Department of Regional Literature, FIB Unhas. This independent study project activity lasted for 4 weeks from November 14, 2022 to December 10, 2022. It was a blessing for Ella because her arrival happened to coincide with the annual ritual, so she could witness and follow every stage of the Mappalili ritual. The final result of this project is a documentary film about bissu and a scientific article.
