Minangkabau Student Unit Profile: Persistent, Preserve the Ethnic Culture

December 23, 2008

By asni jatiningasih

Editor asni jatiningasih

BANDUNG, itb.ac.id- Adat bersendikan Syarak, Syarak bersendikan Kitabullah means custom based on rules, rules based on Kitabullah (Quran). That philosophy highly commited by ITB Minangkabau Student Unit (UKM). The Unit founded on June 1 1975 frequently perform and invited in a few events. The unit founded by Chaliz Syam, Ichwan Ishak, and Sri Ripno Adhidarma. The three is students of Electro class of 1971. UKM have mission and vision to preserve the culture of Minangkabau in the era of modernization that lead various life area, include artistry and culture.

Practice and Commitment

The Culture artistry that develope in this unit such as traditional dance, ethnic music, and culinary. Each member should mastered in Galombang Pasamuan dancing, a dance for welcoming the guests. Other dances such as Piring dance, Ulu Lambe, and Randai dance which is about children play is optional. Music instrument such as Saluang, Bansi,and Serunai for blowing music instruments and Talempong, Gandang, dan Rape'i for music percussion is also learned by the unit member. The member also learn about Minangkabau culinary such as rendang, gulai, lapek, and goreng baluit. They often practice till late and practice intensively, especially when they are about to perform.

"This is our learning process with time and energy managing in the middle of college hectic schedule." Ismul Hamdi (Physics class of 2006,Chief of UKM) said. "To overcome this, it need commitment. Strong commitment will lead to the well practice. Everything will go smoothly, not hard as we could imagine."

Such commitment lead UKM to have capacity to perform in various events such as Open House Unit 2008, Patra Night Event, and a century of Muhammad Natsir in memoriam that was held in Bogor. The unit whose house in ITB East Hall (Aula Timur) invited at least once a week to perform.

Not Just Artistry

Although its capacity as artistry unit, doesn't mean only artistry that they are involve in. The unit also involve themselves in social and academic activities. For example, this year they have social programme devoted to ITB KM House of Learning (Rumah Belajar Keluarga Mahasiswa (KM)). UKM also have the annual agenda to motivate West Sumatra Senior High School student in the form of tryout. Science and technology competition as ell as paper and essay competition for High School Student is also organized by this unit.

At the end, Ismul invite other students to take a part on concerning and having enthusiasm in ethnic culture, not exclusively only west modern culture. "Besides, I also expect ITB would give more attention to artistry students units as well." he said. Persistent is needed to preserve ethnic culture.