MARRIAGE TRADITION AND SOCIAL

IDENTITY OF MALAY BIMANESE,

EASTERN INDONESIA
PROF. ATUN WARDATUN, M.AG,. M.A., PH.D.
WHERE IS BIMA?
BIMA AND ITS’PEOPLE
◦ Kota Bima (Bima municipality), with only 5
districts and 38 villages, had a population of
155.140 (2020), with 49% males and 51%
females

◦ Kabupaten Bima (Bima district) had a

population of 532.677 in 2020, with the
number of females (51,58%) higher than that of
males (48,42%). The people inhabit 18 sub-
districts and 198 villages with uneven
distribution
◦ 687,817 BIMANESE In BIMA
MARRIAGE TRADITION
◦ NIKA TAHO ◦ NIKA IHA

LISTENING TO EVERY-ONE’S VOICES FORCED MARRIAGE (PARENTS’

AUTHORITY)
LOVE MARRIAGES AND ARRANGED
MARRIAGES ELOPEMENT (CHILDREN’S RESISTANCE)
WHO FINDS THE FUTURE PARTNER DOES
NOT MATTER
MARRIAGE NEGOTIATION
◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbOXSeliOxU

◦ NEGOTIATION
◦ RECIPROCITY
◦ COLLECTIVENESS
CAPTION OF THE SONG
◦ Dear, if you are pleased and agree to my request
I will not let you walk alone even when you go for a bath. We will ride the new bike and you will hold my shoulders As a sign of our mutual
love and commitment
◦ If there is something you want from me, dear
Lift a house with twelve pillars to the north
If it only has six poles, I would make it into firewood And if only nine pillars, I will run out of the house
◦ If you agree to my request, my darling
I will buy you a set of shiny yellow earrings
If I do this, you should not go anywhere
These are the signs of young people who love each other
◦ If you really love me, my darling
please renovate the house with a porch on two sides To hold a party and entertain the crowds
If it is available, then my heart will greet you
◦ If our marriage does take place,
both of us will buy a rooster and a hen
for us to eat together after we are bathed
and we will take turns holding and biting the roasted chicken to indicate that we have just come together
LOCAL MEANING OF MARRIAGE
MARRIAGE AS KACAMPO FU’U

◦ JOINT INVESTMENT
◦ BILATERAL KINSHIP
◦ TWO-SIDED AGREEMENT
◦ KNITTING RECIPROCITY BETWEEN
COUPLES AND TWO FAMILIES
SOCIAL MEANING OF MARRIAGE
MARRIAGE AS RAWI RASA

◦ COMMUNITY CONCERN
◦ PAMACO: YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE
◦ JAMBUTA: PUBLIC SHOW AND
SHOWING TO PUBLIC
◦ BOHO SURA NDEU: PERSONAL IS
PUBLIC
Uncovering Bimanese (social) identity
◦ Marriage is seen not merely as the union of two individuals, but also as the alliance of two families or
two groups, in which reciprocity and dependency always go hand in hand
◦ Furthermore, as members of a communal society, the group also has responsibility for making the
process of marriage successful. In return, the marriage ceremony is an opportunity for families to share
their happiness and serve the community with a big festival and a feast
◦ Marriage is aimed at knitting reciprocity and maintaining collective solidarity
◦Terima Kasih
◦Thank You