Ughang Mukomuko | |
|---|---|
 Gandai, a Mukomuko traditional dance. | |
| Total population | |
| 43,750[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Mukomuko Regency | |
| Languages | |
| Mukomuko | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Minangkabau,Rejang,Pekal [id] |
TheMukomuko people are an ethnic group inhabitingMukomuko Regency,Bengkulu, which bordersWest Sumatra to the north.[2][3] The Mukomuko people speak theMukomuko, which has strong influences from theMinangkabau. In addition to language, many elements of Mukomuko culture are also heavily influenced by Minangkabau culture. In their kinship system, they follow a matrilineal system, similar to that observed in the land of Minangkabau.[3][4][5][6]
The Mukomuko region is part of the Minangkabau migratory area (rantau) or, in theTambo Minangkabau (chronicles), referred to asombak nan badabua, an area along the west coast fromPadang to southern part of Bengkulu. This region once belonged to theKingdom of Inderapura, which was based in the present-dayPesisir Selatan Regency. Since the British colonial period, Mukomuko has been administratively separated as part of Bengkulu, a status that has continued after Indonesia’s independence.[7][2]
Historically, Mukomuko has been part of the Minangkabau cultural sphere, as evidenced by the many cultural similarities shared between the two. The Mukomuko people uphold customs that are not much different from those of the Minangkabau. Mukomuko customary law is rooted in Minangkabau traditions, which follow the philosophy ofadat basandi syarak, syarak basandi Kitabullah [id] ("custom rests onsharia, and sharia rests on Qur’an"). In Minangkabau'stambo (chronicles), Mukomuko is mentioned as part of the Minangkabau migratory area (rantau). A delegation from thePagaruyung Kingdom was believed to have traveled to the Mukomuko region in the 15th century. This arrival is thought to have had a significant influence on the lives of the Mukomuko people, particularly in terms of customs and culture.[7][8][9]
In the Mukomuko region, there used to be the Kingdom of Anak Sungai, which is estimated to have been established in the 16th century and centered in Sungai Selagan. Its territory stretched from the northern part of the Manjuto River to Air Urai in the south. Its rulers were described as "descendants of the kings of Pariaman". The kingdom was under the authority of the Inderapura Kingdom, whose representative resided inManjuto [id] and held the titleRaja Adil.[5][9]
Currently, the Mukomuko region is part of Bengkulu Province, bordering two other provinces:Jambi andWest Sumatra. The indigenous population of Mukomuko region consists of two ethnic groups: the Mukomuko and thePekal [id]. The establishment of Mukomuko as a regency after Indonesia’s independence has led to an increasingly diverse population in the area.[2]
The exact number of Mukomuko people is not known, but it is estimated to be around 60,000. In the late 1990s, the population in their native areas was approximately 39,000 in North Mukomuko district and about 31,000 in South Mukomuko district.[4] Most Mukomuko people earn their livelihood through farming, fishing, and trading, with some working primarily as merchants. In agriculture, similar to the people of North Bengkulu in general, they cultivate both wet rice fields and dryland farms. In plantations, they grow coconut, rubber, coffee, and cloves.[4]
The Mukomuko people are generally Muslim. However, elements of their traditional indigenous beliefs can still be seen in their daily lives. Their arts display a strong Minangkabau influence.[4]
The customary laws practiced in Mukomuko are derived from Minangkabau traditions, expressed through sayings and proverbs. The Mukomuko people uphold the philosophy ofadat basandi syarak, syarak basandi Kitabullah ("custom is founded upon Islamic law, and Islamic law is founded upon theQur’an").[10]
The Mukomuko people recognize a type of kinship unit called akaum. There are sixkaum in Mukomuko: Kaum Berenam di Hulu, Kaum Delapan di Tengah, Kaum Empat Belas, Kaum Berenam di Hilir, Kaum Lima Suku, and Kaum Gersik. Eachkaum is led by a head of thekaum, who is responsible for overseeing the implementation of customary rituals at the family level, such as weddings, circumcisions, and thesunat rasul (Apostle circumcision) ceremony.[11]
The Mukomuko kinship system is traced through the maternal line, known as matrilineal. After marriage, the husband relinquishes membership in his own kinship group and joins his wife’s kinship, a practice called semenda (from the Minangkabau termsumando). This system gives daughters a more privileged position, as they become the heirs of their mother's lineage.[12]
In marriage, the Mukomuko people adhere to anexogamous system, similar to that practiced in Minangkabau customs. The marrying parties must belong to different clans or lineages. Although such a marriage is religiously valid, if this rule is violated, the individuals involved may face social sanctions, including ostracism or exclusion from community life.[13][14][15][16]
The Mukomuko people once had a traditional governance system calledmarga, led by apasirah, who was assisted by an official known as thedepati mangku. The pasirah’s role was to maintain order and harmony according to customary law, including collecting taxes. In Mukomuko, there is a tax in the form of labor called padi katulungan, which requires the people to work for three days a year for the pasirah's needs. This labor obligation could be substituted with a monetary payment. Other types of taxes were related to marriage, divorce, reconciliation, and eloping with a girl. These were known locally asuang nikah (marriage money),uang cerai (divorce money),tungkat tua (reconciliation), andayam kelik oruang lalang (eloping with a girl).[4]
In daily life, the Mukomuko people use at least two languages: Mukomuko andPekal, along withIndonesian as the official language. This linguistic situation has existed for a long time and has naturally influenced the Mukomuko language, both in terms of its grammar and its usage.[17]
In a study by Umar Manan and colleagues as part of the Indonesian and Regional Language and Literature Research Project in West Sumatra, published by theDepartment of Education and Culture in 1983, it was estimated that there were around 25,000 native speakers of the Mukomuko language.[17]
The Mukomuko language is still closely related to the Minangkabau language,[18] so linguists continue to classify it as one of the dialects of Minangkabau. In 2008, linguists merged their language code with Minangkabau.[19] This language shares similarities with the Pancuang Soal dialect (spoken in the southern part ofPesisir Selatan Regency,West Sumatra) and has a distribution area to the north of Mukomuko Regency.[17]
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link){{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link){{cite thesis}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link){{cite thesis}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)