PELESTARIAN TRADISI KOKO’O SEBAGAI WARISAN BUDAYA BULAN RAMADHAN MASYARAKAT DESA BILUNGALA DAN TALUMOPATU

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The Koko'o tradition in Bilungala Village and the Koko tradition in Talumopatu Village constitute part of the cultural heritage of the Gorontalo community that has been preserved despite ongoing social and technological changes. This study aims to analyze the historical development of these traditions, their implementation, the social, cultural, and religious values they embody, and the preservation efforts undertaken by local communities and government institutions. The study employed a qualitative research method with a descriptive approach. Data were collected through observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation, and subsequently analyzed using the stages of data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. The findings reveal that the Koko'o and Koko traditions serve not only as a means of awakening community members for the pre-dawn meal (suhoor) during Ramadan but also as important instruments for transmitting the values of mutual cooperation, social solidarity, religious devotion, and Gorontalo cultural identity. Although several technical aspects of the traditions have adapted to contemporary developments, their essential cultural elements remain well preserved through active community participation and institutional support. This study concludes that the sustainability of these traditions depends on the community's ability to integrate cultural preservation with adaptation to social change. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on local cultural preservation by providing a foundation for developing sustainable community-based cultural preservation strategies.

ABSTRAK

Tradisi Koko'o di Desa Bilungala dan tradisi Koko di Desa Talumopatu merupakan bagian dari warisan budaya masyarakat Gorontalo yang masih dipertahankan di tengah perkembangan sosial dan teknologi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis sejarah dan perkembangan tradisi, bentuk pelaksanaan, nilai sosial, budaya, dan religius yang terkandung di dalamnya, serta upaya pelestarian yang dilakukan oleh masyarakat dan pemerintah daerah. Penelitian menggunakan metode qualitative research dengan pendekatan descriptive. Data dikumpulkan melalui observasi, wawancara semi-structured, dan dokumentasi, kemudian dianalisis menggunakan tahapan kondensasi data (data condensation), penyajian data (data display), serta penarikan dan verifikasi kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tradisi Koko'o dan Koko tidak hanya berfungsi sebagai media membangunkan masyarakat untuk sahur selama bulan Ramadan, tetapi juga menjadi sarana pewarisan nilai gotong royong, solidaritas sosial, religiusitas, dan identitas budaya masyarakat Gorontalo. Meskipun mengalami penyesuaian pada aspek teknis pelaksanaan sebagai respons terhadap perkembangan zaman, unsur utama tradisi tetap dipertahankan melalui partisipasi masyarakat dan dukungan berbagai pihak. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa keberlanjutan tradisi dipengaruhi oleh kemampuan masyarakat mengintegrasikan pelestarian nilai budaya dengan proses adaptasi terhadap perubahan sosial. Temuan ini memberikan kontribusi bagi pengembangan kajian pelestarian budaya lokal sebagai dasar penyusunan strategi pelestarian budaya berbasis masyarakat yang berkelanjutan.