Menguak Halimun Baduy; Film Seri Riset Etnografi Kesehatan Tahun 2014

Summary

The video script explores the traditions and lifestyle of the Baduy people, an indigenous group living in the Kanekes village of Banten, Indonesia. Despite modern influences, they preserve their cultural practices, such as walking barefoot, avoiding electricity, and refraining from using motor vehicles. The community is known for its agricultural lifestyle, with rice farming and handcrafts, including weaving and creating traditional knives, as key elements of their economy. The script also highlights their traditional health practices, including reliance on herbal medicine and local healers, and the community’s adherence to strict cultural norms in rituals like childbirth and circumcision.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Badui people live in the Kanekes village, located in the Lebak district of Banten province, Indonesia, and are known for their traditional way of life.
• 😀 The Badui village is situated in the Kendeng Mountains, with altitudes ranging from 150 to 700 meters above sea level.
• 😀 The Badui people maintain strict cultural practices, such as walking barefoot, rejecting electricity in their villages, and prohibiting the use of motor vehicles.
• 😀 To reach the Badui Dalam village, it takes a 5-hour hike, navigating steep hills and narrow paths, with additional time required to reach other Badui villages.
• 😀 Visitors are only allowed to stay for 3 days and 2 nights, emphasizing the preservation of their customs and way of life.
• 😀 The Badui community's primary livelihood is farming, especially cultivating rice in fields rather than paddy fields. However, they purchase supplementary food from outside markets.
• 😀 The Badui people continue to practice and preserve their traditions, including important rituals like 'Seba,' which fosters gratitude to the government for protecting their ancestral lands.
• 😀 The Badui are known for their musical traditions, particularly playing the angklung during special ceremonies and festivals.
• 😀 Traditional crafts like weaving textiles and making golok (a type of machete) are significant in Badui culture and contribute to their income through sales to outsiders.
• 😀 In matters of health, the Badui prioritize traditional medicine, consulting a dukun (shaman) or a paraji (midwife) instead of modern medical practitioners, even for childbirth.
• 😀 The Badui's strict adherence to cultural practices sometimes leads to challenges in healthcare, such as resistance to medical interventions like cesarean sections, which has caused health risks like maternal and infant mortality.

Q & A

What is the location of Desa Kanekes, home to the Badui people?

Desa Kanekes is located in the Lebak Regency, Banten Province, Indonesia. It is situated about 50 km from the city of Rangkas Bitung and lies in the Kendeng Mountains, with an elevation ranging from 150 to 700 meters above sea level.

How does one reach Desa Kanekes, and what are the transportation options?

To reach Desa Kanekes, one can travel by public or private vehicle. The journey takes one through hilly terrain in the Kendeng Mountains. Visitors can also walk to the Badui Dalam village, which involves crossing narrow paths and a challenging 5-hour hike.

What are some of the key cultural practices maintained by the Badui people?

The Badui people maintain several traditional practices, such as walking barefoot, rejecting the use of electricity in their villages, and prohibiting the use of motorized vehicles. They also continue to adhere to their adat (customary law) and perform rituals to preserve their cultural heritage.

How long can visitors stay in the Badui villages, and what restrictions apply?

Visitors to the Badui villages are allowed to stay for a maximum of 3 days and 2 nights. They are expected to respect the community's rules, which include restrictions on the use of modern technology and transportation.

What is the main livelihood of the Badui people, and how do they manage their food needs?

The Badui people primarily earn their living through agriculture, particularly cultivating rice in their fields. However, for their daily food requirements, they often buy supplementary items from markets outside their villages.

How does the Badui community maintain their cultural identity in modern times?

The Badui people preserve their cultural identity by adhering strictly to their adat and traditions, such as performing rituals like the 'tradisiba,' which is a form of thanksgiving to the local government. They also continue their artisanal practices, including weaving and making traditional weapons like golok.

How does the Badui community handle health and medical care?

The Badui community relies on traditional healing methods and practices for healthcare. When someone is ill, they first consult a dukun (traditional healer). For childbirth, they prefer to be attended by a paraji (traditional midwife) rather than a modern medical professional.

What challenges arise from the Badui's traditional approach to healthcare?

The traditional healthcare practices of the Badui, such as giving birth with minimal intervention and using unsterilized methods like cutting the umbilical cord with a knife, can lead to health risks. Studies have shown that nearly half of all infant deaths occur within the first 48 hours after birth due to complications from these practices.

How is childbirth handled within the Badui community, and what complications can occur?

In the Badui community, childbirth is handled by a paraji, and it is a very hands-off process. The mother is expected to give birth without any medical assistance, and the community adheres to strict adat rules, which sometimes result in complications, such as deaths due to lack of proper medical intervention.

What is the 'sunatan lobaan' tradition among the Badui people?

The 'sunatan lobaan' is a traditional circumcision ritual among the Badui people. It is performed on both boys and girls as part of their coming-of-age process. The circumcision is done using a specific method involving bamboo clamps and a knife, with no anesthesia or sutures, and is performed in accordance with the Badui's cultural calendar.