The Butonese (sometimes Butuni, Butung) people is a collective term that embraces a number of ethnic groups of Buton and neighbouring islands in Southeast Sulawesi.

[1] Butonese have long since migrated to many parts of the Malay archipelago using smaller vessels ranging from those that can only accommodate five people to large boats that can hold up to about 150 tons of goods.

When the swapraja (self-governance, created by the Dutch colonial government) domain was abolished, so did the Buton Sultanate which ended in 1951.

Commodities that are planted include paddy, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, cotton, coconut, betel, pineapple, banana, and all other common needs of their everyday lives.

Such as the fortress of the Butonese palace which is the largest fortress in the world, the Malige Palace which is a traditional Butonese house that stands firmly as high as four stories without using a single nail,[4] the currency of the Buton Sultanate called kampua or bida,[5] and many more.