2.Origin of Pasar Ambua (traditional market) and currency

At our traditional market “Pasar Ambua”, we sell local foods that are hard to get in the city twice a month (Saturdays). We have been operating since 2018, and it has been about 7 years now.

What is Pasar Ambua?

Pasar = Market

Ambua (Gorontalo language) has two meanings.

1. Gather

2. Buwa (from ambuwa), means : women… Some said Tabuwa too for said women in Gorontalo..

We hope that this market will be a place where everyone can gather, enjoy local food, and remember the taste of tradition.

https://www.instagram.com/aambuwa?igsh=eHk2ZmMwaW9ud3Qy

At this market, women living in the surrounding area cook and serve local food. It is rewarding to support sales activities while digging up old recipes and preserving traditional flavors.

Instead of Indonesian currency, the market uses “coconut shells” as currency. They also refrain from using plastic and use reusable plates, spoons, and banana leaves. Customers are required to bring their own lunch boxes and tumblers if they want to take food home.

The women selling food at this traditional market do not have to pay a stall fee. Customers purchase coconut shells for 6,000 rupiah (about 52 yen) and use them as currency.

In the market, coins made from coconut shells are used as currency. Customers who come to the market purchase one coconut coin for 6,000 Indonesian rupiah (about 55 yen) and use it to shop. There is no banking, so payment is generally made in cash. A management system is set up under a trading officer called Lookman.

After the market is over, the women in charge of sales hand over the coins they made to the person in charge and receive the payment directly in cash.

If the sales amount is 6,000 rupiah, the women in charge can get 5,000 rupiah, and another 1,000 rupiah is used for electricity and cleaning costs.

To raise funds for our activities, local artists create paintings and crafts and sell them. Up until now, we have developed our programs based on donations from the public through books we publish, T-shirts designed in collaboration with local artists, and sales of artists’ paintings. We have never asked the government for funds.