Kemiri Barat, Batang (05/08/2024) – The launch of a booklet entitled “BULANKU KEMBAR: A Collection of Kemiri Barat Culture” as a medium of information as well as promotion for Kemiri Barat Village, which is projected as an arts and culture village in Batang Regency, was initiated by one of the Real Work Lecture (KKN) Team II students of Diponegoro University (Undip) named Raisha Zahrani Wardiana from the Social Anthropology department. This effort was made in response to limited access to information about the potential of local culture in Kemiri Barat Village even though the village has been designated as one of the arts and culture villages in Batang Regency through Batang Regent Decree Number 556/482/2020.
In a search conducted by Raisha Zahrani Wardiana, it was found that although some information about the culture of Kemiri Barat is available on the village website, many of them are not equipped with detailed descriptions and documentation. In addition, there are local cultures that are not recorded at all and cannot be found on the internet. This lack of information can certainly be an obstacle to the introduction and preservation of Kemiri Barat culture to the younger generation and the wider community. Therefore, the creation of a book containing a collection of cultures in Kemiri Barat is deemed necessary as a complete and easily accessible source of information.
In this booklet, readers can find out about the arts and culture that develop in Kemiri Barat Village, including the traditional ethnic music group “Kemlaka Etnik”, barongan art “Kridha Tata Manggala”, sintren, karawitan, tahlil keliling, kirab bersih desa, and so on. The production of this booklet involved collaborating with village elders, arts activists, and local residents who have in-depth knowledge of Kemiri Barat culture. Through interviews and field observations, Raisha Zahrani Wardiana ensured that the information presented was accurate and comprehensive.
Through a series of visual documentation equipped with detailed descriptions of each culture and art, the booklet “BULANKU KEMBAR” is expected to be a valuable reference in the interest of promotion and preservation of cultural heritage in Kemiri Barat. With more complete and well-documented information about its arts and culture, the village is expected to become a cultural destination that is increasingly recognised by a wider audience and become the first step for more efforts to preserve and promote local culture.
Author: Raisha Zahrani Wardiana
Field Supervisor: Putri Rizka Citaningati, S.E., M.SEI.