Jokowi: Stepping on Buffalo Head is a Traditional Ritual, Don't Drag It into Politics

Jakarta, VIVA – The 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), has spoken out regarding the process of stepping on a buffalo head during the conferment of the title ‘Baginda Pemuka Bangsa’ in Lampung recently.

Jokowi stated that he felt honoured to receive the title from the Lampung indigenous community. “It is a form of respect from the indigenous community in Lampung, a form of respect from the Istana Kedatun Kerajaan Lampung, and I feel honoured to be given this award,” Jokowi told reporters, as quoted on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.

Jokowi subsequently requested that neither the title nor the buffalo-head-stepping procession be dragged into the political arena. He stated that all parties must respect the respective cultures of each region.

“Do not drag everything into politics; it often makes no sense. We must continue to respect customs, continue to respect local wisdom, and continue to respect our culture, because our culture is incredibly diverse,” he said.

On that occasion, Jokowi also dismissed any comparisons between the buffalo head and a bull’s head. He emphasised that the process of stepping on the buffalo head is a part of a traditional ritual.

“It is a traditional ritual; once again, it is a traditional ritual that has been performed not just once or twice, but hundreds of times,” he concluded.

It was previously reported that one moment captured significant attention during the ceremony conferring the customary honorary title upon the 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, at the Kedaton Keagungan Lampung on Saturday, 27 June 2026.

The moment of interest was not the pinning of the title itself, but rather when Jokowi underwent the ritual of stepping on a buffalo head in front of customary leaders and attending guests. The brief procession immediately became a topic of discussion. Video recordings and photos of the ritual circulated widely on social media, prompting various questions from the public regarding its meaning and whether it carried a symbolic message. Until the conclusion of the ceremony, Jokowi did not provide a specific statement regarding the underlying meaning of the buffalo-head-stepping ritual.