The Role of Organization and Mechanism of Parabela Leadership in Preserving the Oral Traditions of the Ciacia Indigenous Community

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the origin of the parabela leadership organization, the parabela leadership organization during the Buton Sultanate and the NKRI government, the parabela leadership mechanism, and the role of the parabela leadership organization and mechanism for preserving the oral tradition of the Ciacia Indigenous community. This study uses an ethnographic case study method conducted in South Buton Regency, Baubau City, Buton. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. The study subjects were customary institutions, customary figures, community figures and the government. The results that (1) the origin of the parabela leadership organization was a customary institution that had existed before it was officially established as a means of kadie (regional government) in the government structure of the Buton Sultanate; (2) the parabela leadership organization during the reign of the Buton Sultanate had a dual position, as a government institution and as a traditional institution of the Kadie region, while during the reign of the Republic of Indonesia it was only a traditional institution; (3) the parabela leadership mechanism during the reign of the Buton Sultanate was still maintained until the current reign of the Republic of Indonesia, namely including the mechanism for appointing, supervising, making decisions, and dismissing parabela; (4) the implementation of the parabela leadership organization and mechanism has an essential role as a traditional institution and as a center for preserving the oral traditions of the Ciacia indigenous people in the former territory of the Buton Sultanate.