JEPPENG

South Sulawesi is a province that has a variety of cultural and artistic traditions. This is because in this region lived a variety of tribes, of which there are four ethnic majority are: Bugis, Makassar, Mandar, and Toraja. The four tribes each have a traditional art that was born and developed along with civilization in the past in South Sulawesi. In general the people of South Sulawesi is known as an accomplished sailors who controls much of the territorial waters up to go abroad, make the community of South Sulawesi better interact with people outside the field of economics, religion, culture and art.


Culture wander and sailors is what makes the majority of South Sulawesi is an egalitarian society, which considers something from outside was better than he has. That is the foundation that most traditional arts in South Sulawesi is the acculturation of the various arts from outside the region of South Sulawesi.Pammasari in Makassar for example, comes from India, which together with the local culture that still survive today. Not only that, the music Pompang in Tana Toraja and Mamasa influenced by music from Europe such as Portugal. A dance named Jeppeng in Parepare and Sidrap, as well as one example of the influence by the Arabs and Malays in Bugis art. Art is still popular today.Jeppeng known by the Bugis people since the 17th century along with the introduction of the Bugis people about Islam. Indeed, this art comes from the Hadhramaut (State of Syria) which spread to Asia with the spread of Islam. Malay people in Malaysia, Singapore, the Riau Archipelago and Sumatra call this art as a dance zapin. (Zapin Folk Dance of the Malay World 1993). Page: 5


Jeppeng is the acculturation of Islamic art Malay and Bugis.Through the cruise-shipping and trade in Arab and Malay traders introduced the Islamic religion and the arts Jeppeng to the Bugis.Zapin derived from Arabic that is Zaffa, Gorontalo People know her as Dana-Dana, in Flores, known as Dona-dona, in an area known Buton Balumpa Badenda or, in the dialect of Java called Japin. japin word was then influenced by the Bugis dialect into Jeppeng term. Jeppeng originally named Gambus Arab. The term psaltery turned into Jeppeng when motion combined. Lempa dance originally included in the accompaniment of harps, and on the development blend of movement and music that is what they call Jeppeng. In 1913 Mr Abdullah an Arab merchant jeppeng develop the arts in Sulawesi. But these figures got the death penalty, was hanged by the colonial Dutch as it is considered against the invaders through the teachings and the spread of Islam in South Sulawesi.


Around this dance of 1940 strong growth, many Bugis community to know and love to play this dance. However, in 1943 this art banned by the Japanese army who was then in power in Indonesia.Since then, this dance shrinkage supporters. Now, specifically for the South region can only do we find in the two regions. The first region, the Arab community in the city and in the district of Pare Pare Pare Pare Bacukiki. Both in the region Sidrap.


Originally Jeppeng art is only displayed limited among Arab communities or families only. Only Muhrim are allowed to attend, then developed the show where the women and men is displayed in an open veranda. Lately dance Jeppeng been shown publicly at the wedding festivities, a celebration-a celebration of community, and the usual festivities organized by the Bugis. Now Jeppeng divided again into two, namely Jeppeng preserved by the man's son and daughter are conserved Jeppeng women.