<![CDATA[This study aims to describe the representation of Kaili culture and the function of the Dade Ndate oral tradition in Taripa Village, Sindue District. Dade Ndate is an oral tradition of the Kaili people presented in rhyming verses aaaa, sung with musical accompaniment to convey stories, experiences, messages, and life values. This study uses a qualitative descriptive method with a literary anthropology approach. Stuart Hall's representation theory and I Nyoman Kutha Ratna's literary anthropology are used to analyze cultural representation, while William R. Bascom's theory of four functions of oral tradition is used to analyze the function of Dade Ndate. Data were collected through observation, semi-structured interviews, documentation, and field notes covering eleven categories of performances, including wedding processions, healing rituals, customary fines, and customs for girls entering adolescence. Data were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman model through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results of the study indicate that Dade Ndate represents six elements of Kaili culture, namely language, belief systems, social values, customs and traditions, traditional arts, and local wisdom. Dade Ndate also serves four functions: as a projection system, validation of cultural institutions and practices, a means of education, and maintenance of social norms. Thus, Dade Ndate serves not only as entertainment but also as a medium for representing Kaili identity and transmitting cultural heritage between generations.]]>
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