PSI Reveals Jokowi Was Unaware of Buffalo Head Ritual: 'Oh Dear, This Will Cause a Stir'

The Chairman of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (DPP PSI), Bestari Barus, has stated that Indonesia’s 7th President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), was unaware of the traditional procession involving stepping on a buffalo head during a political safari in Lampung. PSI explained that Jokowi followed the customary agenda as a form of respect. “Actually, Pak Jokowi was invited to receive a local customary award, with the title Baginda Pemuka Rakyat. It was not Pak Jokowi who determined what would happen; he came to honour the invitation of the traditional council leaders,” Bestari told reporters on Friday. According to PSI, Jokowi admitted he was shocked because he did not know about the procession. Jokowi reportedly worried that the moment would become a topic of public discussion, which turned out to be true. “When he went up on stage, he had already realised it. Last night he told us about it while we were in Solo. He said, ‘Wah, I didn’t know there was that head, the buffalo.’ As soon as he went up, he saw the buffalo head,” Bestari said. “And when he was asked to sit in front of the buffalo head, he muttered, ‘Wah, this is going to cause a stir’,” he added. Bestari noted that Jokowi had predicted the ritual would become a major talking point. Nevertheless, the procession was carried out to honour the local customs. “And then, when he was asked to place his foot on the buffalo head, he said, ‘Oh dear, this will be even more of a stir.’ So he had no idea about the procession, he just followed it as a sign of respect from the people of Lampung, and that is what was later labelled a symbol of arrogance by PDIP cadres,” Bestari stated. He left the interpretation of Jokowi’s actions to the public, emphasising that the former president was not acting in a soap opera. “Let the people judge, but the point is that Pak Jokowi was not playing a role in a soap opera there; he was following the directions of the local traditional elders,” he said. Bestari reiterated that Jokowi was unaware of the ritual beforehand and only participated to honour the local customs. “He did not know beforehand. He did not expect it to be like that. But he did not refuse because he was respecting the local traditional rituals. So he just went along with it,” he added. Traditional leader of Lampung Pepadun Suttan Seghayo Dipuncak Nur, Mawardi Harirama, had previously urged the public not to link the procession to political interests. He explained that the ritual of stepping on a buffalo head is part of the Begawi Cakak Pepadun or Munggah Bumi ceremony, a tradition passed down through generations. The ritual philosophically symbolises the removal of bad traits from a person. “Placing the toes on the buffalo head is to eliminate animalistic traits within oneself, such as arrogance, envy, greed, and other negative characteristics. It has nothing to do with politics,” Mawardi clarified.