Keywords
Character
Hegemony
Social
Symbolic Representation
How to Cite
Share
- Abstract 0
Abstract
This study aims to uncover the symbolic meaning of Kawali, a traditional Bugis weapon, as a social mechanism and instrument for character formation in the South Sulawesi cultural system. Using a qualitative-ethnographic approach, this study was conducted over 9 months in the Bone and Luwu Regencies, involving 15 informants. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation studies of lontara manuscripts and ritual practices. Then, they were analyzed thematically using Antonio Gramsci's cultural hegemony theory framework and Clifford Geertz's symbolic anthropology. The results show that Kawali is not merely a physical artefact but also a social symbol rich in traditional values, norms, and the Bugis' philosophy of life. Through pamor motifs, colors, and inheritance rituals, Kawali functions as a medium for communicating the values of siri’ (honor), pangaderreng (customary ethics), social responsibility, and loyalty to tradition. The symbolism of Kawali shows how Bugis cultural hegemony is exercised through moral consensus and aesthetic practices, rather than through coercion. In a modern context, Kawali is also reinterpreted as a symbol of identity and resistance to cultural homogenization. These findings confirm that traditional Kawali artifacts have contemporary relevance in character education, cultural preservation, and the formation of national identity. As living symbols, Kawali unites art, faith, and ethics in a single, evolving system of meaning.
References
Abdul, R. (2023). Fetisisme Pada Badik Oleh Masyarakat Di Desa Duampanuae Kabupaten Sinjai. Jurnal Cakrawala Ilmiah, 2(7), 2957–2968. https://doi.org/10.53625/jcijurnalcakrawalailmiah.v2i7.5039
Abdullah, A. (2017). Kerajaan Bone Dalam Lintasan Sejarah Sulawesi Selatan (Sebuah Pergolakan Politik Dan Kekuasaan Dalam Mencari, Menemukan, Menegakkan Dan Mempertahankan Nilai-Nilai Entitas Budaya Bugis). Lensa Budaya: Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu-Ilmu Budaya, 12(2), 15–28. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.34050/jlb.v12i2.3047
Akhmar, A. M., Arafah, B., & Pardiman, W. (2017). Strategi Budaya Orang Bugis Pagatan dalam Menjaga Identitas Ke-Bugis-an dalam Masyarakat Multikultur. Kapata Arkeologi, 13(1), 73. https://doi.org/10.24832/kapata.v13i1.392
Al-Gasali, M., Ali, A. M., & Hasnawati. (2022). Moties and Artistic Qualities of 3 Kawali Malela Belonging to Andi Ardiansyah in West Tanete Riattang Bone Regency. 3(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.34050/jlb.v12i2.3047
Alamsyah, A. (2022). The Political Dominance of the Bugis in the Coastal Region of Indonesia from the 17th Century to the 19th Century. Journal of Maritime Studies and National Integration, 6(1), 30–37. https://doi.org/10.14710/jmsni.v6i1.12963
Amin, K. F., Tang, M. R., Parawansa, P., & Salam. (2019). The ideology of buginese in indonesia (Study of culture and local wisdom). Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 6(4), 758–765. https://doi.org/10.31969/alq.v29i2.1337
Ampa, A. T., Salam, S., Lipu, A. T., & Sulolipu, A. A. (2023). Makna Pendidikan Ekonomi Informal Dalam Perilaku Ekonomi Anak Dibingkai Nilai-Nilai Budaya Bugis. Perspektif Pendidikan Dan Keguruan, 14(2), 133–138. https://doi.org/10.25299/perspektif.2023.vol14(2).14546
Ashar, M., Salman, D., & Fahmid, I. M. (2018). The Hybridity of Multiple Loyalties towards Postcolonial Identity ( Problematic Transformation of Various Identity in Bugis- Makassar Society ). IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science, 23(2), 8–15. https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-2302100815
Ashari, M., Haryanto, E., Syarif, M. I., & Sugiarto, E. (2024). Kawali As A Form Of Expression And Means Of Persuasive Communication For The Bugis Community. Proceedings of Fine Arts, Literature, Language, and Education, 2024, 675–683. https://doi.org/10.56799/peshum.v4i2.7697
Astrianie, Y., Wijayanti, Y., & Nurholis, E. (2023). Nilai-Nilai Filosofis Simbol Galuh Kembang Cakra Rahayu Kancana. Jurnal Artefak, 10(2), 237. https://doi.org/10.25157/ja.v10i2.12296
Bijaksana, A. (2025). Pendekatan Teori Interaksionisme Simbolik dalam Metodologi Penelitian Kualitatif. PESHUM : Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial Dan Humaniora, 4(2), 2244–2256. https://doi.org/10.56799/peshum.v4i2.7697
Dalle, M., & Jundi, M. (2021). Sosio-Politik Orang Bugis dan Islamisasi Masyarakat Sulawesi Timur di Zaman Kolonialisasi Belanda. Heuristik: Jurnal Pendidikan Sejarah, 1(2), 90–106. http://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v11n4p43 Abstract
Fajri, S., Latief, H., & Andi, A. (2018). Pa’dekko Ugi di Bialo Bulukumba (Pergeseran Makna dalam Konteks Masyarakat Tradisional). 4–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.08.079
Hanur, H., & Arisal. (2018). Understanding of Local Wisdom of Buginese Wajo Community Through of Balo Lipa Sabbe Meaning. Pangadereng, 4(1), 187–199. https://doi.org/10.53625/jcijurnalcakrawalailmiah.v2i7.5039
Herlina, A., & Rasyid, A. (2022). Struktur Penyelesaian Konflik dalam Cerita Legenda Wajo: Paradigma Masyarakat Bugis dalam Prespektif Levi-Strauss (The Structure of Conflict Resolution in the Legend Story of Wajo: The Buginese Community Paradigm in Levi-Strauss Perspective). Sawerigading, 28(2), 107–118. https://doi.org/10.26499/sawer.v28i2.924
Juanda, J., & Azis, A. (2022). The Bugis Culture in Marriage Proposal Communication. Mozaik Humaniora, 22(2), 204–218. https://doi.org/10.20473/mozaik.v22i2.29628
Kapojos, S. M., & Wijaya, H. (2018). Mengenal Budaya Suku Bugis (Pendekatan Misi Terhadap Suku Bugis). Jurnal Lembaga STAKN Kupang, Matheteuo, 6(2), 153–174. https://doi.org/10.2991/iccd-19.2019.30
Khairani, M., Saragih, N., Lestari, K., & Noprial, R. (2025). Rancangan dan Langkah-Langkah Penelitian Kualitatif. Numbers : Jurnal Matematika Dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam, 3(1), 21–27. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003141693
Mahmud, M. A., & Jannah, I. N. (2022). Pertahanan Tradisi Perkawinan Suku Bugis Muncar Banyuwangi. Al-Ashlah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga, 1(2), 116–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.08.079
Mursalim. (2023). Bugis Cultural Taxonomy: An Overview of Hofstede’s Cultural Dimension. Jurnal Adabiyah, 23(2), 39–55. https://doi.org/10.2991/iccd-19.2019.30
Nasution, A. F. (2023). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif. In Harva Creative. http://scioteca.caf.com/bitstream/handle/123456789/1091/RED2017-Eng-8ene.pdf?sequence=12&isAllowed=y%0Ahttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2008.06.005%0Ahttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/305320484
Nicholas, W. (2021). Research Methods (3rd Editio). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003141693
Nina, M., Hanifa, A., Yulinda, S., Chotimah, O., & Julia, S. (2022). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif Studi Pustaka. Edumaspul: Jurnal Pendidikan, 6(1), 974–980. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2023.2215465
Nordin, M. A., & Che, C. S. A. (2020). Symbolism of The Sabah Bugis Motive: Sign and Meaning: Weapon and Textile. Jurnal Seni Dan Pendidikan Seni, 8(2), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.37134/kupasseni.vol8.2.1.2020
Pierce, C. S., & Kamulyan, S. K. (2017). Makna Estetik pada Situs Karangkamulyan di Kabupaten Ciamis. Jurnal Desain Interior & Desain Produk, 2(1), 32–47. https://doi.org/10.31969/alq.v29i2.1337
Qurotul, S. A., All Habsy, B., & Nursalim, M. (2025). Model-Model Penelitian Kualitatif: Literature Review. Jurnal Penelitian Ilmu Pendidikan Indonesia, 4(2), 341–354. https://doi.org/10.31004/jpion.v4i2.367
Rais, M. (2010). Hegemoni Elit dalam Ritual Agama Lokal: Studi Keberagamaan Masyarakat Bugis Bone Sulawesi Selatan. El-Haraka (Terakreditasi), 12(2), 98–119. https://doi.org/10.18860/el.v0i0.446
Regina, S. (2021). Dimensi Estetika Karya Tari Mungkartaga dalam Media Virtual. Jurnal Seni Makalangan, 212, 67–77. https://doi.org/10.26742/mklng.v8i2.1798
Rezki, D., & Putra, H. (2022a). Dissensus Efforts in Kawali dan Pistol by Alfian Dippahang. Lakon: Jurnal Kajian Sastra Dan Budaya, 11(1), 41–54. https://doi.org/10.20473/lakon.v11i1.36835
Rezki, D., & Putra, H. (2022b). Dissensus Efforts in Kawali dan Pistol by Alfian Dippahatang. Lakon: Jurnal Kajian Sastra Dan Budaya, 11(1), 41–54. https://doi.org/10.20473/lakon.v11i1.36835
Rohmalita, V. S., Fauzi, N. B., Dermawan, T., & Widiati, N. (2022). Bissu in Between Religious Puritanism and State: The Study of Hegemony in The Tiba Sebelum Berangkat Novel By Faisal Oddang . Proceedings of the 2nd World Conference on Gender Studies (WCGS 2021), 649(Wcgs 2021), 117–122. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220304.017
Rusdi, N. Q., Yabu, & Aswar. (2022). Fetisisme Pada Badik Oleh Masyarakat Di Desa Duampanuae Kabupaten Sinjai. 2, 2–8. https://doi.org/10.53625/jcijurnalcakrawalailmiah.v2i7.5039
Rustan, D. R. H. P. (2022). Dissensus Efforts in Kawali dan Pistol by Alfian Dippahatang. Lakon : Jurnal Kajian Sastra Dan Budaya, 11(1), 41–54. https://doi.org/10.20473/lakon.v11i1.36835
Ruwaidah. (2018). Meaning Badik for Bugis Tribe Community (Study in The village of Kijang, the subdistrict of Reteh, the downstream Indragiri Hilir). Jom Fisip, 5(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.31969/alq.v29i2.1337
Satriadi. (2020). Pamor Kawali dalam Masyarakat Bugis. Jurnal Seni Budaya, 3(1), 1–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2015.06.056%250
Sawaty, I. (2021). Pengaruh Kesadaran Primordial Siri’dalam Dinamika Masyarakat Bugis. Al-Mau’izhah: Jurnal Bimbingan Dan Penyuluhan Islam, 3(2), 13–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.08.079
Ulum, B., Jannah, S. R., & Arifullah, M. (2017). Hegemoni Sosial dan Politik Identitas Putra Daerah Jambi. Al-Daulah: Jurnal Hukum Dan Perundangan Islam, 7(1), 223–249. https://doi.org/10.15642/ad.2017.7.1.223-249
Xiyuan, X., Youhong, Z., Wei, W., & Guohong, Z. (2025). Latest advances in research methods for high-yield cellulase production. Sustainable Energy & Fuels, 12(9), 1617–1632. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SE01553C
Yusaerah, N., Imranah, I., Sartika, S., & Fajrah, N. (2024). Ethnochemistry: Analysis the Relevance of Elements Periodic System in the Making of Kawali Bugis Bone as a Learning Chemistry Source. Hydrogen: Jurnal Kependidikan Kimia, 12(5), 974–986. https://doi.org/10.33394/hjkk.v12i5.12811
Yusuf, A. M. (2017). Assituruseng: Hegemoni Budaya Dalam Praktik Politik dan Kekuasaan di Belawa. ETNOSIA : Jurnal Etnografi Indonesia, 2(1), 74–94. https://doi.org/10.31947/etnosia.v2i1.2956
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Meisar Ashari, Eko Haryanto, Muhammad Ibnan Syarif, Eko Sugiarto