Eid al-Adha in South Africa Offers Unique Experience for Indonesian Students

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The celebration of Eid al-Adha in South Africa has provided Indonesian students with a distinctive cultural experience. Chair of the Indonesian Students Association (PPI) in South Africa, Muhibbudin Majid, said that even local non-Muslim communities look forward to receiving portions of sacrificial meat each year.

“Non-Muslims usually wait for the remaining portions of sacrificial meat to be shared, so they also hope to receive it,” Muhibbudin said in an interview with PRO3 RRI on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

He explained that Indonesian students actively participate in the distribution process, including cutting and preparing the meat before sharing it with both the local community and fellow students.

The types of sacrificial animals, he noted, are similar to those in Indonesia--primarily cows and goats. “At the embassy, the meat is usually prepared in Indonesian style, with dishes such as satay and gulai,” he added.

Meanwhile, other institutions in South Africa often prepare the meat with Indian flavors, making curry a staple dish during Eid al-Adha celebrations.

The festive atmosphere is further enriched by Indonesian students gathering with peers from Malaysia and Thailand to hold takbiran (chanting the takbir) together, recreating the spirit of their home countries.

In his Eid al-Adha message, Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar called on the public to embrace the holiday as a moment to strengthen sincerity, social solidarity, and collective responsibility in caring for life and the environment.

“Let us reaffirm the spirit of sacrifice as an expression of sincerity, compassion, and shared responsibility. Eid al-Adha is not only a personal act of worship but also a reminder to care for nature and preserve harmony in life,” he said. (Diffa Sephiawardhani)