Folklore from Southeast Sulawesi
Once upon a time, in the heart of Muna Island in Southeast Sulawesi, lived an old woman and her only son, La Ane. Her husband had passed away many years ago, leaving her to raise their son alone. Though her body was weary with age, her spirit remained strong. To earn a living, she ventured deep into the jungle each day, gathering bundles of firewood that she would later sell at the market in the village.
Life was hard, but the old woman never complained. Her greatest hope was for La Ane to grow into a kind and responsible young man. Every morning before heading out, she would prepare simple meals and gently remind her son of his duties.
"Don’t forget to sweep the floor,” she would say while tying her headscarf. “And remember to wash the clothes. We have a lot of dirty laundry piling up.”
But La Ane rarely listened. His eyes sparkled only when he played with his favorite spinning top, a wooden toy he carried everywhere. As she spoke, he would nod absentmindedly, barely looking up.
“Yes, Mom,” he would reply, spinning the top across the dirt floor, fully absorbed in play.
She sighed. It hurt her heart to be ignored, but she continued on her way into the forest, carrying the weight of the family’s needs on her tired shoulders.
That afternoon, as the sun dipped behind the trees and the shadows stretched long, she returned home exhausted. But instead of being greeted by a clean house, she found a mess—clothes still scattered, dust on the floor, and no sign of her son.
“La Ane, where are you?” she called out, worry and anger mixed in her voice.
There was no answer at first. Moments later, La Ane strolled in, his clothes stained with dirt and sweat, his cheeks flushed from running and laughing with his friends.
“Where have you been?” she asked sharply, trying to hide her disappointment. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“I was playing with my spinning top,” he answered simply, without a trace of guilt.
“I told you to clean the house! Why didn’t you do it?” Her voice trembled—not just with anger, but sadness too.
She was deeply upset. No matter how many times she pleaded with him, La Ane never helped. He spent his days chasing laughter, forgetting his mother’s sacrifices. Day after day, it was the same. Once she left, he would disappear to play and only return home when he was hungry.
Though she never said it out loud, her heart ached. The boy she had raised with love and effort seemed to care more about his spinning top than the well-being of their little home—or her. And that sorrow grew deeper with each passing day.
One day, the old woman could no longer hold back her feelings. Her patience had run out after being ignored again and again. She loved her son dearly, but she also wanted him to learn a lesson about responsibility and respect. With a heavy heart, she took La Ane’s beloved spinning top—his most treasured possession—and cut it into small pieces. She placed the broken pieces carefully on a plate and set it on the dining table, right where she usually served food.
Later that day, La Ane came home, expecting to eat as usual. But when he looked at the plate, he froze. There was no food. Instead, he saw the shattered remains of his spinning top lying quietly on the plate. His eyes widened in shock. His heart ached.
Tears welled up in his eyes. “Why, Mother?” he whispered. “Why did you do this? Don’t you love me anymore?”
Feeling unloved and full of sorrow, La Ane ran out of the house. He climbed a tall tree in the yard, his emotions swirling inside him like a storm.
From the treetop, he cried out, “Mother, why don’t you love me anymore? Why don’t you give me food? If you don’t want me, then I’d rather become a bird and fly away!”
And suddenly—something miraculous happened. As soon as he said those words, fine, colorful feathers began to sprout from his skin. His arms turned into wings, and his feet into claws. Yes—La Ane was transforming into a bird!
When the old woman came home from the jungle, she immediately looked for her son. “La Ane! Where are you? Are you still playing? Come inside now!” she called out, confused by the eerie silence.
From above, a soft voice answered, “Ntaapo-apo!”
She paused, startled. That voice... it was La Ane’s!
“La Ane! Where are you, my son?” she called again, panic in her voice.
“Ntaapo-apo!” came the reply once more.
She looked up and gasped—there, perched high on a tree branch, was a stunning bird. Its feathers shimmered with beauty, just like the mythical cendrawasih (the bird of paradise). Its eyes... they were full of sorrow.
“La Ane, is that you?” she cried. “Oh no... what happened? Please come down! I’m sorry!”
But La Ane only replied once more, “Ntaapo-apo...” and with a flap of his wings, he flew into the sky, disappearing among the clouds.
The old woman collapsed to her knees, overwhelmed by sadness and regret. But it was too late. Her son was gone.
Since that day, the people of Muna remember the bird that calls “Ntaapo-apo” from the treetops. They say it is La Ane, the boy who turned into a bird. It is said that the bird's voice can still be heard from the treetops of Southeast Sulawesi, as if La Ane is still flying freely, carrying his story through the skies.
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🌿 Moral Message:
Disrespect and disobedience can lead to painful consequences, but so can reacting with anger instead of understanding. This story reminds us that mutual respect, communication, and compassion between parents and children are essential. Love must be expressed not only through discipline but also through patience and guidance.
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