Parupama:

Social Critique Through Humor in the Oral Tradition of the Konjo Society
Syamsurijal
Research Center for Religious Heritage and Civilization, National Research and Innovation
Agency.
Email: syam017@brin.go.id

Abstract
Amid the proliferation of literacy and information technology, society's oral traditions are
gradually fading. Oral traditions such as "royong" (mourning songs), "pau-pau"
(storytelling), "pasang" (messages), and "elong" (songs) in South Sulawesi are nearly extinct.
However, oral traditions are still thriving in the Konjo Society, particularly in Tanah Toa
Kajang and Kindang Bulukumba in South Sulawesi. One such tradition is "parupama," a
storytelling tradition known for its absurdity, humor, and underlying social critique. Through
"parupama," the community conveys messages and criticisms to local and central leaders and
specific individuals and systems perceived as unjust. This article will explore how this oral
tradition perseveres in a society transitioning towards written traditions. Additionally, this
article aims to reveal how humor within the local community serves as a means to convey
social criticism discreetly without directly attacking the individuals or institutions being
criticized. This qualitative research-based article draws from field observations and
interviews. The research findings indicate that the "parupama" tradition remains in the Konjo
community. It emerges during life-cycle ceremonies and folk festivals. Parupama is usually
done by someone good at telling stories; the people present are crowded to hear the story.
Occasionally, they laugh if something is funny, satirical, and poking someone. This research
also illustrates that the local community, particularly the ordinary people, has mechanisms for
expressing their opinions to balance power. Amidst the scarcity of social criticism through
humor, the "parupama" tradition can serve as an example of how to elegantly and casually
convey opinions and criticisms.
Keywords : Oral tradition, Social Critique, parupama, storytelling, humor