The Transformation of Mbaru Gendang from Communal-Cultural House to Cultural Building in Manggarai, Eastern Indonesia

Abstract

Mbaru gendang is a traditional-communal house of the Manggarai people in Eastern Indonesia. It functions as a sacred place, symbol of continuity over generations, and the center of a village. The house has become the home for the village heads. They have been responsible for maintaining the house, its relationship with the ancestors/spirits and ensuring the house's social, cultural, and religious functions. However, this previous study found some houses have become empty buildings as village heads had no longer dwelled in the houses. This research explored the causes and consequences of the phenomenon. It employed ethnography as the method with an in-depth interview as a tool for collecting the data. The study found several reasons why the village and clan head did not want to live in the house: living in their own house is more comfortable, private, economical, confident than living in the communal one. In addition, there are conflicts between families and a new agreement from residents about the house. Although this change has not been following the old custom, many parties can rationalize this change without losing their cultural identity. There have always been new negotiations and adaptations in the culture.