National Cultural Studies Seminar: Deconstruction of Kembar Buncing Tradition and Commodification of Sunan Bonang’s Tomb

HUMANIORA – (5/8/2024) Ahmad Ghozi, MA, a lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities at UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, was a speaker at the National Cultural Studies Seminar themed "Deconstruction of Kembar Buncing Tradition in North Bali and Commodification of Sunan Bonang's Tomb in Tuban, East Java," held on Friday, July 19, 2024.

This seminar was part of the fifth series of the Cultural Narratives program organized by the Indonesian Cultural Studies Association, featuring speakers from faculty members and doctoral students in cultural studies from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Udayana University in collaboration with the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Sebelas Maret University.

Ahmad Ghozi, currently pursuing a Doctoral Program in Cultural Studies at Sebelas Maret University Surakarta, presented his research on the commodification occurring at the Sunan Bonang Tomb complex in Tuban, East Java, which he deemed to have reached an alarming level.

According to Ghozi, the shift and commodification of the tomb complex began in the late 1980s to early 1990s. This change was in line with the government's program at that time, promoting the Sapta Pesona concept, which led to the development of religious tourism with various supporting facilities. This, according to Ghozi, caused significant changes in how the Sunan Bonang tomb was managed and perceived by the public.

Furthermore, Ghozi explained that the three zones in the Sunan Bonang tomb complex, namely the Jaba yard, the Jaba Tengah yard, and the Jeroan (sacred space), have experienced commodification according to their respective levels of sanctity.

"These three zones represent the concept of 'I, Desire, Happiness' – that to achieve happiness, one must abandon ego (I) and excessive desires (Desire), thereby reaching true happiness in the sacred zone," he stated.

The seminar also covered another equally interesting topic, namely the deconstruction of the Kembar Buncing tradition in North Bali. This discussion provided new insights into how the tradition is understood and interpreted in a contemporary cultural context.

Through this seminar, Ahmad Ghozi and the participants were expected to deepen their understanding of cultural phenomena and social changes occurring around us. The urgency of the topics highlighted the importance of balancing cultural conservation and adaptation to the times, especially in the context of commodifying historical and sacred sites.

The seminar aimed to inspire academics, researchers, and the general public to be more critical and wise in understanding and responding to cultural changes happening around them, as well as to encourage efforts to preserve valuable cultural values amidst modernization. [al]