On Buton Island in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, lives the Kaimbulawa tribe-just over 1,000 people among the island’s 450,000 residents.
What makes them stand out? Their striking blue eyes, a rare sight in a country where dark eyes are the norm.
This unusual trait comes from Waardenburg syndrome, a genetic condition that can cause hearing loss and changes in pigmentation. It often results in very pale blue eyes or even two differently colored eyes-like one blue and one brown.
The tribe’s European roots go back to the spice trade era, when Portuguese sailors settled on Buton Island and married into local royal families. But this mix of cultures wasn’t always accepted. During Dutch colonial rule, it led to discrimination, and even today, blue-eyed children from the tribe have faced bullying.
Thankfully, that’s starting to change. Social media has become a space to showcase their unique beauty and heritage, helping the younger generation feel proud of who they are and where they come from.
