Baduy

The Baduy, also known as Kanekes, are an indigenous Sundanese community in the interior highlands of western Java, Indonesia. They are noted for their strong adherence to adat (customary law) and for maintaining limited contact with the outside world. The Baduy inhabit the mountainous area in and around Lebak Regency, Banten Province, often in proximity to forested valleys and the Halimun–Salak range.

Socially, the Baduy are commonly divided into Baduy Dalam (Inner Baduy) and Baduy Luar (Outer Baduy). Baduy Dalam live with stricter seclusion and observe more stringent taboos, while Baduy Luar maintain somewhat greater contact with neighboring communities but still follow adat rules. Leadership is informal, based on elders and customary authorities rather than state institutions.

Beliefs and practice center on adat and a syncretic religious life. Islam is widely observed, but many rituals and daily practices are influenced by traditional beliefs and ancestral customs. Pantangan, or taboos, guide behavior, including aspects of dress, movement, and interactions with outsiders, reinforcing a cohesive community identity.

Culture and dress are distinctive. Baduy men and women typically wear plain white clothing; many avoid footwear in some areas and adhere to modest, conservative attire as a sign of purity and devotion to adat.

Economy and ecology are largely subsistence-based. The Baduy practice swidden rice farming and cultivate crops such as maize and sweet potatoes, relying on forest products for medicine, tools, and crafts. They produce bamboo and other handicrafts for local use and limited exchange.

Tourism occurs in some areas, with visitors usually required to obtain permission and follow local etiquette to respect adat and land rights.