The Existence of The Traditional Minangkabau Oral Art “Bagurau Lapiak” In Minangkabau

Each culture has its own diversity as in West Sumatra there is a performance called Saluang Dendang. if we interpret one by one from the word Saluang itself is a word derived from the word Basaluang which means joking, laughing or joking then the word Dendang here means music that exists in the local cultural community so that it can be interpreted that saluang dendang is a tradition of the minangkabau community in the field of traditional art performances that are comedic.

In the area, this tradition usually uses rhymes that have been changed or redesigned by Minang women or called tukang dendang where they have to make rhymes according to the rhythm. This performance is usually performed at 9pm until the dawn call to prayer.

In the concept that has been designed regarding the show, bagurau is an activity that is rampant in the lives of the Minangkabau people where these activities usually take the form of chatter and jokes that discuss certain topics, usually in the middle of the chat interspersed with jokes.

Minangkabau people usually carry out this tradition in places where many people usually gather in it such as coffee shops, cafes and others where this activity is considered as entertainment.

The districts of Agam, Lima Puluh Kota and Tanah Datar are areas in West Sumatra where the bagurau tradition developed, where there is one person who becomes a singer in the tradition and is usually performed by women while the saluang player of this tradition is male.

The audience also comes from various backgrounds and is usually filled with male audiences.

This very unique and easily accepted by many people tradition is organised with various themes and of course in accordance with existing activities in the Minangkabau community such as weddings, circumcisions, and others.

Not only that, this tradition is also a gathering between residents and the Minangkabau community where they can meet each other and become close friends and this tradition also expands the exposure of each person.

But over time, this tradition is not only a hereditary tradition but makes a field to make a living for this artist, this opportunity is very utilised because it provides many benefits in terms of financial and entertaining the crowd by providing jokes.

Of course, this bagurau tradition is held by a community that has the same hobby or passion specifically in the field of pagurauan, but the opportunity for other people outside this community is also very wide to form this event.

Of course, with the wide opportunity, the rules in organising this event are also not too binding, this is because the main purpose of organising this event is to entertain the community. Here the audience is also invited to chat with the drummers so that this activity is interactive.

They are also happy that the bagurau tradition is a place to relieve fatigue even though the audience cannot make jokes or drum well but they are also happy to be invited to be active by the saluang maker.

As a place to joke around, this tradition can also be a place for people who want to hold a tradition according to the topic of their choice, usually they provide some funds to the organisers and provide topics according to what they want. As for janang who is one of the most important people in organising bagurau lapiak, this is because janang has a role in presenting the show so that this can also be an intermediary between one another.

Janang also has a function to liven up the atmosphere of the event so that the drummers and the audience will feel confused and not enjoy the event properly. The topics conveyed through witty rhymes written on a piece of paper or cigarette packet written by the audience and handed over to janang are usually about the past, youth stories, romantic stories, satire or jokes.

At first, the actors in this tradition in Minang were mostly men, this is because if a woman becomes a traditional actor, especially in the arts, it is not considered ethical because it is not polite if a woman and a man sing on stage, especially when the specified time is nighttime.

However, if we look again at the corner of the arts that women today are more aggressive than men this is because women have a friendly nature and can treat guests well.

Sigit Pamungkas, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Andalas University