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Njuah-Njuah cultural festival as a counter-hegemonic space for sustaining Pakpak traditional music in Dairi Regency Tobing, Jakob P Cennedy Lumban; Nasution, Ikhwanuddin; Purba, Mauly
International Journal of Culture and Art Studies Vol. 10 No. 1 (2026): International Journal of Culture and Art Studies (IJCAS)
Publisher : Talenta Publisher

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.32734/ijcas.v10i1.23943

Abstract

This study examines the shrinking cultural space of Pakpak traditional music in Dairi Regency, North Sumatra, where Batak Toba musical aesthetics increasingly dominate ritual, religious, and public cultural events. Although the Pakpak community possesses a rich musical tradition, particularly the Genderang Sisibah ensemble, these forms are gradually displaced within everyday communal practices. This research aims to analyze how the Njuah-Njuah Cultural Festival functions as a cultural arena that supports the sustainability and visibility of Pakpak traditional music. The study employs a qualitative ethnographic approach involving participant observation, in-depth interviews with cultural actors and musicians, and analysis of institutional and cultural documents. Fieldwork was conducted across several communal contexts, including family rituals, church activities, school events, entertainment markets, and the Njuah-Njuah Cultural Festival. The findings reveal that the dominance of Batak Toba music is not merely a matter of aesthetic preference but is closely tied to structural factors such as institutional influence, symbolic legitimacy, and the broader availability of Batak Toba musicians in the local entertainment economy. Despite these pressures, the Njuah-Njuah Cultural Festival provides an important public platform where Pakpak musical traditions regain visibility and cultural authority. The study contributes theoretically by demonstrating how cultural festivals can serve as counter-hegemonic arenas that facilitate the transmission, negotiation, and continuity of indigenous musical traditions in contemporary socio-cultural contexts.
The meaning of the oral tradition Penganjak Kuda Sitajur in the accompaniment of kulcapi within the Karo community Sinulingga, Ramanta; Purba, Mauly; Ginting, Pulumun Peterus
International Journal of Culture and Art Studies Vol. 10 No. 1 (2026): International Journal of Culture and Art Studies (IJCAS)
Publisher : Talenta Publisher

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.32734/ijcas.v10i1.24508

Abstract

The study examines the oral tradition of "Penganjak Kuda Sitajur," prevalent in the Karo community, focusing on the semiotics of narrative and the role of the kulcapi, a musical instrument, as a supporting medium in storytelling. This tradition reflects the cultural, social, and religious values of the Karo community through the heroic tales of the Sitajur character, narrated musically. Using a qualitative approach with ethnographic methods, the research relies on primary data from interviews, observations, and field documentation. The semiotic theories of Jacques Derrida and Roland Barthes are employed to decode denotative, connotative, and mythical meanings conveyed in this tradition. Meanwhile, Derrida’s theory will reveal a deeper meaning, or what is known as the theory of deconstruction, regarding the story of the Sitajur horse. The findings reveal that "Penganjak Kuda Sitajur" is not merely an oral narrative but a cultural expression imbued with values of character education and local wisdom. The kulcapi plays a vital role in enhancing emotional depth and narrative structure, making this tradition unique among oral traditions. The study highlights that despite changes in form and medium, the essence and moral messages of the tradition remain preserved and continuously revitalized by the Karo society.