In the mountains of West Java, Indonesia, the Baduy people live by ancient traditions centered on food, land, and nature. This documentary captures the everyday lives of Baduy families and shows how they protect their culture, land, and knowledge in the face of modern challenges.
Seeds of Tradition: The Food Security of the Baduy People - Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Southeast Asia
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In the mountains of West Java, Indonesia, the Baduy people live by ancient traditions centered on food, land, and nature. They practice dryland rice farming and follow strict customs to maintain food security in a changing world. For them, rice is sacred—not for sale, but stored in traditional granaries called leuit for family use and rituals. Farming is a way of life and learning, where children grow up helping their parents in the fields in the absence of formal education.
Baduy women work equally alongside men in farming where there is no gender-specific agricultural role, women also carry on the tradition of weaving, using skills passed down through generations. Their patterns blend heritage with the influence of visiting outsiders.
This documentary captures the everyday lives of Baduy families and shows how they protect their culture, land, and knowledge in the face of modern challenges.
Language: Indonesian (with English subtitles)
Film Director and Script: A.B. Rodhial Falah
Video, Sound, and Editing: A.B. Rodhial Falah
Subtitles: A.B. Rodhial Falah
Concept: A.B. Rodhial Falah, Fransiskus Tarmedi, Marion Regina Mueller
Project Lead: Fransiskus Tarmedi and Marion Regina Mueller
This video is licensed under Creative Commons License (CC-BY-NC-SA-ND 4.0) by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Southeast Asia, 2025
This video is part of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Southeast Asia series on #RegionalDialogue. For more information please visit the website of the Southeast Asia Regional Office.
