Bandung, August 2024 – A recent study by Rizki Nurislaminingsih from Universitas Padjadjaran and Yety Rochwulaningsih from Universitas Diponegoro reveals that Javanese folk songs are not merely cultural entertainment but also serve as a repository of traditional health knowledge.
By analyzing four well-known folk songs—Prau Layar, Padhang Wulan, Suwe Ora Jamu, and Kodok Ngorek—the research shows that these oral traditions carry messages about mental well-being, physical health, and the use of herbal plants in traditional medicine.
The song Prau Layar emphasizes the mental health benefits of seaside recreation, while Padhang Wulan reflects children’s happiness playing under the moonlight as a form of emotional well-being. Suwe Ora Jamu highlights the use of traditional herbs such as cassava leaves, sweet potato leaves, meniran, and seligi, while Kodok Ngorek underscores the health benefits of temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb.).
The study applied a qualitative, content-driven document analysis, utilizing folk songs documented and shared on YouTube. The findings highlight how orally transmitted indigenous knowledge continues to provide valuable health literacy for contemporary society.
This research aligns with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by promoting healthy lifestyles through recreation, rest, and traditional herbal consumption. It also supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by preserving local wisdom as part of sustainable cultural heritage and community resilience. Thus, Indonesian folk songs serve not only as cultural preservation but also as an enduring source of health education for future generations.
Full article available at: http://media.unpad.ac.id/files/publikasi/2024/rpm_20240805091018_2631.pdf
Writers: Ridha Amalia, Nadziva Shaqeena Firdaus, Shelpi Nur Awaliyah
