Buleleng Northern Lights

Desa Menyali Blacksmith Center of Buleleng

Desa Menyali is a village in Sawan Sub-District, Buleleng Regency, famous for the role of blacksmiths who form about 70% of the village inhabitants. They are skilled in producing aluminum bowls and iron implements. The most famous among the crafts are the iron works located in Banjar Kanginan, while Banjar Kawan has smiths capable of making aluminum bowls.

There is a working group of iron blacksmiths called the ‘Kamboja Group’, including amongst others Made Sugiarta, Ketut Dana, Putu Arya and Pan Luh Ayu. Interesting to note is that the Menyali’s smiths’ products such as sickles, golok big knives, some other farming tools and other household implements have been exported to Lombok and transmigration’ areas in Sulawesi. There are some markets in Bali which sell the sickles of Menyali at Beringkit Cattle Market (Tabanan Regency), Kreneng Market in Denpasar and similar markets in South Bali.
The blacksmith Made Sugiarta said he has devoted himself to the profession since 1980, while inheriting working implements from his parents. He works daily with his brother Ketut Dana and even his son, Warnita, is ready to assist them. Their products come to markets by assistance of collectors as far as Denpasar, Tabanan, Gianyar and the surrounding areas. Sugiarta has earned just enough to satisfy his daily needs, including the schooling of his three children.
Sugiarta and Dana hope the Government Authority will be able to take the fate of the Menyali’s blacksmith into account with a transition from traditional working implements used so far to better ones. The blacksmiths of Menyali also expect the government authority to stage a training course with an effort to upgrade product quality. (leo)