The University of Indonesia utilised digital technology in order to preserve the Enggano culture.
According to a recent press release, the Electronic Myth and Ritual Documentation Program was initiated to maintain, secure and prevent the loss of the Enggano culture.
The project
Led by the University’s Faculty of Cultural Sciences Community Service Team, the documentation had been archived to the Electronic Archive System, which is also known as the SEKAR UI.
This project aims to address the problem of how the Enggano language and culture are slowly fading among the younger generation as they are slowly being influenced by modern information technology (IT).
The team felt they needed dynamic documents of the culture to serve as proof, by and for themselves, as well as a way to preserve it in order to protect and develop the Republic of Indonesia.
Enggano Island is located 156 kilometres from Bengkulu City and is included in the country’s 3T island category: Outermost and Disadvantaged.
Included in the archived documentation are the myths and rituals of the Enggano tribe. Keeping these will allow the general public and the younger generation Enggano citizens to access and learn more about the culture.
The SEKAR UI application synergizes with the North Bengkulu Regency Office website, the National Archives Information Network as well as the database at the Enggano District Office.
Utilising ICT
With the looming threat of a millennial generation that is greatly influenced by the arrival of sophisticated information and communications technology (ICT), ensuring the preservation of the tribe’s myths and rituals will serve as cultural defence and security.
Although ICT seems to be a threat to the existence of the tribe’s culture, it will also serve as a means of preserving it so that the younger generation can learn about their myths and rituals.
Since millennials relate well with ICT and it has become a big part of their lifestyle, it would be easier for them to learn about their history with its help.
The University’s initiative has proven to be successful in preserving Enggano’s culture.
However, Enggano Island remains to lag behind the major cities in Indonesia when it comes to ICT networks as it remains to use dual band.
Despite this, the team hopes that this initiative to use digital technology to preserve cultures will also be used in other parts of Indonesia.
It would be nice if this digitally-preserved Enggano culture be shared and disseminated to other parts of the country.
Since it is connected with the North Bengkulu Regency Office website, the National Archives Information Network as well as the database at the Enggano District Office, it will be much easier to access it and learn from it.
