Budaya Merantau Madura: Mengakar Sejak Dulu, Dipicu Kemiskinan | Narasi Explains

Summary

The video explores the migration culture of the Madurese people, focusing on Mansur, a coffee seller in Jakarta known as 'Starling.' Originally from Pamekasan, Madura, Mansur's journey reflects the broader migration trends that have shaped the Madurese community for centuries. Driven by poverty and the harsh conditions of their land, many Madurese leave for better opportunities in the informal sector. The narrative delves into the socio-economic dynamics of Madura, the challenges of tegalan farming, and the resilience of Madurese migrants who have built new lives in Java, all while maintaining strong cultural identities.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mansyur, a mobile coffee seller in Jakarta, is popularly known as 'Starling' (a blend of 'Starbucks' and 'keliling', meaning 'around'). He is originally from Pamekasan, Madura, and has been migrating to Jakarta for over a decade with the goal of making his parents happy.
• 😀 Madura, a region known for its large tegalan (dryland farming), has a history of significant migration due to limited agricultural productivity, which often leads to poor harvests and food scarcity.
• 😀 The Madurese migration culture has been passed down for generations, with a long history of Madurese people leaving their homeland to seek better economic opportunities in other parts of Indonesia, especially in urban areas like Jakarta.
• 😀 In the 19th and 20th centuries, the harsh conditions of Madura, such as poor irrigation and erratic rainfall, forced the local population to migrate for better prospects, including working in plantations and urban businesses.
• 😀 By the late 1800s, Madurese migration patterns saw tens of thousands of people leaving the island annually to work in agriculture and trade in nearby regions, including Java and Bali.
• 😀 Economic hardship in Madura persists to this day, with three of the region's districts—Sampang, Bangkalan, and Sumenep—being among the poorest in East Java, contributing to ongoing migration to urban centers like Jakarta.
• 😀 Migrants from Madura often work in the informal sector, including as street vendors, scrap metal collectors, and mobile coffee sellers, creating a significant presence of Madurese people in major cities.
• 😀 The ecological challenges faced by Madura, including land degradation and droughts, have shifted the region's economic focus away from agriculture and toward labor-based work in urban areas.
• 😀 Madurese culture values individualism and self-reliance due to limited local resources, with a focus on the nuclear family as the primary social unit. This contrasts with more communal societies where extended families are central.
• 😀 The historical and ongoing migration of Madurese people has sometimes led to social tensions, particularly in regions where they compete for resources, as seen in incidents like the Sampit riots. These tensions are often more about economic disparities than ethnic or cultural differences.
• 😀 Despite the challenges, Madurese migration remains a deeply rooted tradition aimed at improving the lives of their families, with the ultimate goal of achieving stability and prosperity in the face of limited local opportunities.

Q & A

Who is Mansyur and why is he popularly known as 'Starling'?

Mansyur is a Madurese man who works as a coffee vendor in Jakarta. He is popularly known as 'Starling', which is short for 'Starbucks keliling', reflecting his mobile coffee-selling business that traverses the streets of Jakarta.

What motivated Mansyur to migrate to Jakarta?

Mansyur migrated to Jakarta to make his parents happy, seeking better opportunities and to escape the economic challenges of his homeland in Madura.

How does Mansyur's story represent the broader migration trend of the Madurese people?

Mansyur's story reflects the broader migration trend of Madurese people who have left their rural homeland in search of better economic opportunities, driven by limited resources and challenging agricultural conditions.

What are the main agricultural challenges faced by Madura that have contributed to migration?

Madura's agricultural challenges include large areas of tegalan (barren land), low productivity, unpredictable rainfall, and a high risk of crop failure, all of which have made farming unprofitable and contributed to widespread poverty.

What is the significance of tegalan land in Madura's economy?

Tegalan land in Madura, which covers a large part of the island, is ecologically unsuitable for large-scale agriculture. It produces low-yield crops like corn, tobacco, and other palawija, leading to limited income for the people who rely on it.

How does the history of migration from Madura date back, and why did people start migrating?

The history of Madurese migration dates back to the early 19th century, with people leaving due to poor agricultural conditions and a lack of economic opportunities. Migration became a necessity for survival, with many moving to neighboring areas like East Java and even further into regions like Kalimantan.

How did the opening of plantations in East Java influence Madurese migration?

The opening of plantations in East Java created new job opportunities for the Madurese, who became laborers in these plantations. This attracted large numbers of Madurese migrants seeking work and a better life.

What role does migration play in the Madurese community's survival strategy?

Migration plays a crucial role in the survival strategy of the Madurese community, offering them a means to escape poverty and find better work opportunities. Migrants often take up jobs in urban centers like Jakarta or work as laborers in various sectors.

What social tensions arise from the migration of Madurese people to other regions?

Migration of Madurese people to other regions sometimes causes social tensions, particularly when there is competition for resources or jobs. One example is the conflict in Sampit, Kalimantan, where the Madurese people clashed with the Dayak ethnic group over control of economic resources.

How has the migration affected the social structure of the Madurese community?

Migration has led to a shift in the Madurese social structure, where the focus has moved away from communal ownership and towards individualism. This individualism is seen in the emphasis on personal work ethic, independence, and self-reliance, which are key traits for surviving in a migratory economy.