<![CDATA[This study examined Eyo Gitar as a medium of oral expression and communal identity representation in highland Papuan society, specifically in the Lanny Jaya region of Papua Pegunungan. The research employed qualitative ethnographic methods, including participant observation, in-depth interviews, and audio-visual documentation conducted over five months (August–December 2025) with instrument makers, senior players, traditional leaders, and youth learners. The findings revealed that the production of Eyo Gitar involved collective work with clear role divisions, reflecting the solidarity system and communal values fundamental to Papuan social life. The selection of wood materials such as lem eyo or wuyu eyo was based not only on physical and acoustic properties but also on spiritual considerations, demonstrating a sacred ecological relationship between humans and nature. Eyo Gitar was performed in various social contexts including welcoming guests, accompanying wedding processions, and bakar batu ceremonies, with songs containing personal narratives, family histories, and emotional reflections that functioned as embodied memory connecting present generations with ancestors and traditional values. The performativity of Eyo Gitar—through the combination of guitar plucking, foot stomping, and emotional singing—created participatory and communal musical experiences that strengthened solidarity and collective identity. However, the preservation of Eyo Gitar faced several challenges including limited regeneration of players and makers, minimal documentation, external cultural influences, and environmental degradation threatening material availability. Despite these challenges, significant potential existed through community initiatives, educational institution involvement, and researcher interest in documenting and promoting Eyo Gitar as Papuan cultural heritage. This study confirmed that Eyo Gitar was not merely a musical instrument but a living system of knowledge integrating aesthetic, social, spiritual, and ecological dimensions in a distinctive musical practice. The research recommended collaborative and community-based approaches to support the sustainability of Eyo Gitar through local curriculum integration, participatory documentation, and ecological conservation programs.]]>
