Cultural Enlightenment Movement
Hall of GKS Synod, Waingapu, September 21, 2013
As the
follow up activity of Multicultural and Inter-Dialogue Training with context of
Sumba Culture Nowadays, on Friday – Sunday, September 13 – 15, 2013 in GKS
Okanggapi, Londalima, East Sumba, Stube-HEMAT Sumba held a further discussion with
Marius Mura Woki, S. Sos., a former chairman of Haharu district, as the guest
speaker. Yulius Anawaru, S.Pt., a member of Stube-HEMAT Sumba team managed the
discussion as the moderator. The discussion in the Hall of GKS Synod in Waingapu was attended by 24 participants, including
Trustha Rembaka, coordinator of Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta.
Marius
Mura Woki is so much encouraged to enlight young Sumbanese about Sumba customs.
This cultural enlightment movement is done through Forum Peduli Adat (Customs Care Forum). Marius said that culture is
a way of life that’s developed and owned by a group of people and it has been passed down from generation to
generation. The culture is made up of various elements and even complicated
ones.
Most
of Sumbanese are still in the shackle of poverty. They need to be aware and be
reconstructed so they may have a better living standard, covering basic needs, appropriate
jobs, well educated kids, and health insuranced. However, the fact is on the
contrary, family finance that’s actually
for their children education or family health often goes to custom practices
and demands.
Custom
is the product of culture, created by people in the past being passed on from
generations, and being expected to bring people into prosperity. Ironically, certain
cultural rituals actually imprison even impoverish, and no longer relevant to
the present situation. Some Sumba cultures still existing up to now are traditional
clothing, traditional house, betel nut (sirih pinang), traditional dances, traditional
funeral ceremony and marriage customs.
Marius
gave examples that traditional funeral ceremony is so costly that needs many custom animals, such as pigs, buffaloes,
horses, and traditional fabric. He emphasized that he did not intend to
eliminate the customs, but give a suggestion to simplify them. He started the
simplification of traditional funeral ceremony in his family clan in Mangili,
East Sumba.
Participants
responded that Sumba cultures have been formed in such practice for a long
time, so the process of simplification will take time. In addition, some
participants expressed that these simplifications require an understanding
among Sumbanese clans themselves, so that the simplification process could be
done and accepted by the stake holders.
This
lively discussion was closed with the statement that culture will evolve
continuously and one should not be bridled by culture, however s/he must be
able to show their cultural identity owned. (TRU)
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