The Representation of Cultural Values in Syair Hohó of South Nias

Merri Christina Zalukhu — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study examines the representation of cultural values within the Hohó Mesozokhö Bu’ulölö chants of South Nias as a form of oral tradition that preserves collective memory and cultural identity. Departing from previous scholarship that primarily emphasizes the documentation of performance forms and functions, this article highlights how cultural values are articulated through lexical choices, ancestral characterization, the structuring of origin myths, and the human–nature relationship within the poetic text. The primary data consists of Hohó texts documented by the Nias Heritage Foundation (Yayasan Pusaka Nias), supported by ethnographic references, oral tradition studies, and Nias cultural sources. A qualitative-interpretative analysis was employed, involving data reduction, thematic coding of values, and the interpretation of representation—grounded in representation theory—while linking meanings to the frameworks of cultural memory and narrative identity. Data validity was maintained through source triangulation and semantic validation via expert and cultural practitioner review. The findings reveal six dominant values: reverence for ancestors, human–nature interconnectedness, customary leadership, bravery and honor, kinship unity, and spirituality. These results affirm that Hohó is not merely an aesthetic expression, but a vital mechanism for the transmission of values and the reinforcement of cultural identity for the Nias people, particularly in the South Nias region.

Jurnal Pembelajaran Sastra

The Representation of Cultural Values in Syair Hohó of South Nias