Indonesia to build Sheikh Yusuf museum in South Africa

Indonesia's Ministry of Culture plans to construct a museum dedicated to Sheikh Yusuf Al-Makassari in Cape Town, South Africa. Construction is targeted to begin in 2027, though officials hope to move forward sooner depending on the completion of complex licensing processes.

Sheikh Yusuf Al-Makassari, a prominent figure from Makassar, South Sulawesi, is honored as a hero in both Indonesia and South Africa. The museum will be located where he spent his final years following exile by the Dutch colonial government. The design is expected to adapt the architecture of the Gowa Kingdom to suit the local environmental conditions in South Africa.

The project follows a request made to former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and has gained renewed momentum following discussions between Indonesian and South African cultural ministers. The Indonesian government has allocated approximately Rp62 billion (US$3.52 million) for the project, which aims to preserve cultural ties and serve as an Indonesian cultural center.