Folklore in Bannang Sareng Wedding Ceremonies: Unity, Universality, and Functional Replacement in Modern Muslim Societies

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Bannang Sareng is a community where there is intense interaction between traditional local cultural ideas and Islamic principles. This characteristic appears clearly in the folklore of wedding rituals. This folklore plays a part in maintaining local society with a complex structure of duties.  However, there is still a lack of analytical study of the connection between folklore and social structural systems. The purpose of this research is to analyze the functional structure system, including functional unity. functional internationalism and the functional replacement of folklore in the Muslim wedding ceremony of the Bannang Sareng community, Yala Province. To present a model for using folklore information to maintain local society. and is a record of important folklore information of the Bannang Sareng people as cultural heritage.  

Methods: This research employed a qualitative methodology by collecting data from fieldwork at 4 wedding ceremonies between January and April 2024, using participant observation, interview, group discussion, and also related documentary data. The researcher analyzed the data obtained from the data collection according to the objectives and scope of the research using descriptive analysis methods. Then the researcher checked the completeness of the analysis results to see whether the research questions are clearly and purposively answered or not to collect additional information for detailed and in-depth data analysis. All data were then analyzed according to the research objectives using the functional structure concept.  

Results: The research result indicated that the folklore expressed through Bannang Sareng wedding ceremonies has reflected the functional unity from three types of integrated relations: 1) power relation; 2) kinship relation; and 3) public resource use relation. In the aspect of the functional universality of social system, the research found that their wedding ceremonies have expressed 2 types: 1) explicit function, including people assembling for labour and brainstorming, brides and grooms’ identities announcement and affirmation, raising funds for wedding hosts, identifying brides and grooms’ principles and guidelines, creating blessing and auspicious atmosphere, making recreation; 2) hidden function has been including making peaceful atmosphere, dissolving conflict, showing one’s competencies and pride in local arts. In the aspect of the functional replacement of social system, there are two types including, 1) the functional replacement throughout the concept of modern Muslim societies, and 2) the functional replacement to fit in modern life. The research result reflected the role of folklore in the structural system of the Bannang Sareng community which can be seen as the modern Muslim society.  

Application of this study: This research result shows that the functional and structural role of folklore in wedding ceremonies to modern Muslim societies is a significant way to analyze and apply the Folkloristics idea to peacefully preserve cultural identity in a diverse society. In addition, this research result is recording the important folklore data of Bannang Sareng people for cultural heritage.    

Conclusions: The analysis of folklore in the Muslim wedding ceremony of the Bannang Sareng community, which is a modern Muslim social system, using the structural and functional concept, found that the Bannang Sareng community is a social system consisting of folklore about wedding ceremonies as a minor component. These folktales are related to various things, including the power relationship between Allah and humans, the kinship relations among community members and the usage of public resources. These have created a functional unity that maintains the stability of the modern Muslim social system. The study’s result also found that the folklore in the wedding ceremony of the Bannang Sareng people is has a functional universality. These appeared as both explicit and hidden duties. In addition, it was found that there have been functional replacements according to the concept of modern Muslim social system and functional replacements to be consistent with the current way of life. Due to the latter, it may cause the extinction of some folklore. Finally, the results of this study can be extended for practical use, especially in modern Muslim societies.