The Legend of La Sikori Cave: A Wakatobi Love Story That Endured Seven Years

There is a folktale from Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi, that tells the legend of La Sikori Cave — a site remembered as a silent witness to a love story from long ago.

As cited in the book Cerita Rakyat Wakatobi (Bahasa Wakatobi dan Bahasa Indonesia), in earlier times on Binongko Island there lived a young man named Lasikori, who came from a modest, ordinary family.

Lasikori fell in love with a beautiful woman named Wa Samania. Unlike him, Wa Samania came from a wealthy noble family.

That contrast in background meant their relationship was not approved by Wa Samania’s parents, with social status differences cited as the main reason for their refusal.

Lasikori and Wa Samania, however, did not give up. They continued trying to meet in secret.

Over time, the situation weighed heavily on Wa Samania. She felt she had no freedom to see the person she loved.

Wa Samania then began looking for a way to escape her home. An opportunity came one day when her family went to attend a celebration in a neighboring village.

Wa Samania did not let the moment pass. She left the house and hid inside a cave not far away.

She stayed in hiding there for a long time. When her parents returned from the celebration, they did not find Wa Samania at home.

They searched every corner of the house, but Wa Samania was still nowhere to be found.

Wa Samania’s parents then announced a large public contest: whoever managed to find Wa Samania would be allowed to marry their daughter.

News of the contest reached Lasikori, and he decided to join.

One night, Lasikori reportedly had a dream in which he saw Wa Samania inside a cave. Taking it as a sign, he went to the cave.

At the cave’s entrance, Lasikori found it pitch-dark. He took a piece of bamboo and fashioned a torch before entering.

Lasikori’s arrival, it is said, was noticed by Wa Samania. But she could not raise her voice to call out to her lover.

Not only that — Lasikori could not see her either. No matter how hard Wa Samania tried to call him, Lasikori remained unaware.

Lasikori, meanwhile, felt sure his beloved was inside the cave. Yet he could not find her.

The story says Lasikori searched for Wa Samania in the cave for years. When hungry, he survived by eating bats found inside.

Unseen by Lasikori, Wa Samania did the same. She also drank water that dripped through cracks in the rocks to quench her thirst.

In the seventh year, Lasikori decided to leave the cave. Not long after, Wa Samania also managed to get out.

She then returned to her family. Her arrival shocked relatives who had long believed she was lost.

Her family asked where she had been all that time. But Wa Samania could only speak in stammers, and her words were not understood.

Later, Wa Samania heard news that Lasikori had also come out of the cave before her. Hearing that he was still alive brought her immense relief.

Strangely, she was then able to speak as she once had. Wa Samania told her family what she had experienced, including Lasikori’s years-long attempt to find her.

In the end, Wa Samania’s parents gave their blessing. Wa Samania married Lasikori, and the couple lived happily together.

In time, the cave where Wa Samania hid became known as La Sikori Cave, named after the man who searched for her.

Indonesianpost.com | GNFI