Bandung, 2024 – Library and Information Science Program, in collaboration with the Creative Community Forum Foundation (YFKK) of Sibolga Tapanuli Tengah, has successfully documented the Baso Culture, a kinship greeting tradition of the Coastal Sibolga ethnic community in North Sumatra. This intangible heritage, once transmitted orally, is now at risk of extinction due to lack of written records.
The research, led by Lailan Saumi Panggabean and team, was conducted from January to July 2023 using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach. Involving cultural experts, community leaders, and local activists, the study recorded and categorized Baso greetings into six groups, from nuclear family greetings to general kinship expressions.
To ensure wider access and preservation, the findings were disseminated through digital platforms such as Instagram accounts @tutur.runduk and @lai_bookshelf. This innovative approach not only safeguards the cultural practice but also promotes intergenerational learning, making Baso available to both local communities and a global audience.
The initiative aligns with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by preserving local cultural identity as part of sustainable and inclusive urban development. It also supports SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by reinforcing values of kinship, respect, and social harmony, which contribute to peaceful coexistence in Sibolga’s multicultural society.
Through this cultural documentation effort, Universitas Padjadjaran and YFKK emphasize the role of digital technology in cultural advancement while strengthening social cohesion and community resilience for the future.
Full article available at: http://media.unpad.ac.id/files/publikasi/2025/rpm_20250123134336_8442.pdf
Writers: Ridha Amalia, Nadziva Shaqeena Firdaus, Shelpi Nur Awaliyah
