Transformation of Kim Game from the Gambling Arena to the

Wedding Ceremony

Arnailis

, Misda Elina

, and Yurnalis

Indonesia Art Institute of Padangpanjang, Karawitan Department, Bahder Johan Street, Padangpanjang, Indonesia

Keywords: KIM, Marriage Ceremony, and Entertainment

Abstract: This research aims at describing the metamorphosis of KIM game in the context of a wedding ceremony in

Solok city, Sumatera Barat province. Previously, KIM was a music performance turned into the arena of

gambling. However, nowadays, KIM performance has become the means of entertainment in the context of

a wedding ceremony. This research used analysis descriptive method by listing KIM performances textually

and contextually and metamorphose theory to explain that there’s the change of the original form into a new

form namely the change of form of KIM game with the gambling element into a performing art in wedding

ceremony. Research results showed that the change of KIM game occurred because of the influence of

people’s view toward the context of gambling and music in KIM performance. Therefore, today, KIM

performance is no longer a gambling arena but it has changed into the means of entertainment performed in

the wedding ceremony of Solok people.

1 INTRODUCTION

KIM is one of the performances that consists of

vocal music and instrumental music. Initially, KIM

performance was a gambling arena where several

audiences could participate by paying the

registration fee. The winners of gambling were

given prizes according to the amount of registration

fee paid by them to KIM player.

Nowadays, KIM game has been performed in the

wedding ceremony of Solok (a city in West

Sumatera province, Indonesia) people. However,

conceptually, KIM game does not undergo changes.

The changes occur on the awarding system of KIM

game winners and that the participants are no longer

needed to pay the registration fee to KIM player. It’s

because the prizes that will be contested are

provided by the host who will hold the wedding

ceremony.

KIM performance at the wedding party gets a lot

of attention from its people. This performance is

able to distract people’s attention especially the

young generation who previously preferred to enjoy

music performance that its performers wore too sexy

clothes and danced too seductive movements. And

these things tend to result in chaos. Nowadays,

young people do not focus on the kind of music

performance that can corrupt their mind. Their

attention has been alternated to KIM performance

where they can enjoy the music and also expect the

prizes that have been previously prepared by the

host.

Hence, this research aims at describing the

changes of KIM performance in the context of the

wedding ceremony of Solok people.

2 METHOD

This research used an analytical descriptive method

started with collecting information related to KIM

performance in the context of the wedding ceremony

in Solok city. The related information was collected

through KIM players, KIM fans, KIM users, and

KIM observers. The observation was focused on the

social situation that caused the existence of KIM

performance in the life of Solok people. It’s then

continued with the more general and deep

observation toward research focus so finally, the

research objective could be described namely the

transformation of KIM performance from the

gambling arena to the entertainment medium in the

context of a wedding ceremony.

Data collection was conducted through the

observation and interview toward KIM players, KIM

fans, KIM users, and KIM observers in Solok city.

Arnailis, ., Elina, M. and Yurnalis, .

Transformation of Kim Game from the Gambling Arena to the Wedding Ceremony.

DOI: 10.5220/0008525700240030

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Intermedia Arts and Creative Technology (CREATIVEARTS 2019), pages 24-30

ISBN: 978-989-758-430-5

And the metamorphose theory proposed by

Soedarsono was used in the discussion of the

research problem. Soedarsono in Hadi (2009: 170)

stated that metamorphose theory is a theory of the

process of transformation and structural change.

Therefore, art by metamorphosis has the

characteristics of (1) the imitation of its original

form; (2) a brief and compact packaging; (3) setting

aside the sacred, magical, and symbolic values; (4)

full of variation; and (5) cheap price.

3 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

3.1 KIM in the Context of Gambling

KIM was one of mix performances of music and

vocal with the gambling played during it that

evolved in the Minangkabau society of West

Sumatera. Vocal sung was in the form of

Minangkabau pantun and verse that’s accompanied

by combo band music. In the several pantuns sung

by the KIM singer, several numbers were mentioned

that became the element of gambling.

3.1.1 Element of Gambling in the Game

KIM game has four elements namely:

1. Registration fee paid according to the amount

determined by KIM singer;

2. Paper coupons with numbers on it prepared by

KIM singer;

3. Dices made of wood;

4. Prizes dedicated for the winners of KIM game.

Those four elements describe the existence of the

gambling element in KIM game. Gambling is the

game by using money or precious things as its bet

obtained through several ways such as dice game

and card game (http:www: KBBI V, 2016: 590)

3.1.2 Game Procedure

KIM game was performed by singer and combo

band musical players as its accompaniment. KIM

game was started with the payment of registration

fee by the participants to KIM singer. The amount of

registration fee was adjusted to how high or low the

nominal value of the contested prize, such as the

bicycle, radio transistor, tape recorder, umbrella,

jacket, raincoat, flashlight, petromax light, and so

on. The number of participants was determined

according to the target desired by KIM singer.

KIM singer started the performance by singing a

song that its lyric contained the warning of being

careful in playing the game in order to avoid any

error.

Example of pantun:

Kaladang mari kaladang

Kaladang batanam padi

Lah sudah buah digoyang

bamain kito kumbali

diangkek batu partamo

apo angko nan tibo

hati hati manjago

jan sampai salah pulo

In Indonesia language,

Ke ladang mari ke ladang

(To the field, let’s go to the field)

Ke ladang bertanam padi

(To the field, to plant paddy)

Setelah buah di goyang

(After the paddy has been harvested)

Hati-hati paman menjaga

(Be careful sir, in taking care)

Bermain kita kembali

(Let’s we play once again)

Diangkat batu pertama

(Being lifted the first stone)

Apa angka yang tiba

(What numbers will be out)

Hati-hati manjaga

(Be careful when taking care)

Jan sampai salah pula

(Don’t be wrong)

Next, KIM player started to sing a lyric that

directed the participants to concentrate on listening

to numbers that would be mentioned by KIM singer.

Example of Pantun:

Iyo kaladang baolah sanduak

Iyo dibaok nan mudo-mudo

Sudah digoyang buah dikaruak

Hati lah hati mamak manjago

In Indonesia language,

Ke ladang bawalah sendok

(to the field, please bring the spoon)

Dibawa anak muda-muda

(It’s brought by the youngsters)

Sudah digoyang buah dikeruk

(After harvesting, the fruit is eaten)

Hati lah hati paman menjaga

(Please be careful o dear Sir in taking care)

Transformation of Kim Game from the Gambling Arena to the Wedding Ceremony

3.1.3 Implementation of Gambling in KIM

Game

Each player held the paper coupons containing

numbers 1 until 90. Those numbers were randomly

written on the column of paper coupons had by each

player so the player did not have the same number.

Figure 1: It’s a picture of paper coupons.

The numbers of 1 – 90 had by KIM singer were

designed in the form of dices. Dices were placed in a

small cylindrical can. This can with the dices in it

was then shaken according to the song tempo sung

by KIM singer. Those dices were taken one by one,

and the number written on the taken dice was the

number mentioned through the pantun of KIM

singer. This thing was done repeatedly until there

was one of the participants who shouted that his/her

paper coupon has been fully marked according to the

numbers mentioned by KIM singer for s/he marked

the numbers on the column of paper coupon based

on the numbers mentioned by KIM singer.

If the holder of paper coupon had marked all

numbers on the column of his/her paper coupon

according to numbers mentioned by KIM singer,

s/he shouted: “oooo masuak siko” (in Indonesia

language, masuk disini; in English, it’s jackpot over

here). After hearing the shouting, KIM singer and

musician stopped the performance. Then, KIM

singer matched the numbers mentioned with the

number marked on participant’s paper coupon. If

those numbers were the same, the participant was

entitled to get the prize.

3.2 Metamorphosis Packaging of KIM

Performance

Nowadays, KIM game has undergone changes

whether from the internal or external context of

performance. The changes occur on KIM singer,

song sung during the game, and accompaniment.

The other changes also occur in its supporting

society and the procurement of prizes. These

changes are caused by several influencing factors

whether internally or externally (Sumiarti, 2015:

33).

The current KIM game is the imitation of the

previous form that’s then made into the entertaining

musical performance. The element of gambling in

the KIM game then becomes a distinctive style in

the latter-day performing arts. Soedarsono in Hadi

(2009: 170) also stated similar thing. He explained

that art by metamorphosis has the characteristics of

(1) the imitation of its original form; (2) a brief and

compact packaging; (3) setting aside the sacred,

magical, and symbolic values; (4) full of variation;

(5) cheap price. Referring to the characteristics of

metamorphose art stated previously, today KIM

performance has these characteristics such as how to

give prizes, various song rhythms, singers,

performance stage, and performance equipments.

Basically, people’s traditional performing arts is

the product of aesthetic creativity in the past with its

local characteristics that then grew and became part

of the continuity of its people culture and tradition

(Bahar, 2015: 77).

Referring to Bahar’s statement, the whole KIM

performance is the product of creativity in order to

maintain the continuity of people’s culture. It

happens because the process of imitation from an

old and real form therewith its state of affairs

namely the gambling becomes a performing art that

involves various aspects related to KIM performance

namely 1) host, 2) KIM singer, 3) property, 4)

electronic media, 5) prize, 6) location of

performance.

3.2.1 The Host

Nowadays, the implementation of KIM performance

is based on the host’s request toward a KIM group.

The host is a person or a group of people who hold a

reception at once is responsible for the

implementation of KIM performance, starting from

determining the schedule and location, providing

KIM singer and team’s property and facility, and

paying the service fee of KIM singer and the team

that consists of keyboardist and technician. Usually,

the technician will prepare all things related to the

success of the performance and also become the

operator of a projector screen. However, this

meticulous preparation is worthless without people’s

participation to support the success of the

performance. During the performance, the host

always maintains good behavior and gives facility

for participating people in the form of drinks and

CREATIVEARTS 2019 - 1st International Conference on Intermedia Arts and Creative

snacks. These become something attracting people’s

attention to take part in succeeding the KIM

performance.

This actual condition is the important thing that

must be taken into consideration by the host

particularly in maintaining good relationship with

the relatives who have come to participate and

enliven the reception that’s being hold so a peaceful

and quiet atmosphere is created, yet it’s also full of

joy and cheer starting from the beginning until the

end of KIM performance.

3.2.2 KIM Singer

Basically, KIM singer only receives a service fee

from the host of reception. Therefore nowadays,

KIM singer is only fully responsible on the

continuity of KIM performance.

KIM singer must have the ability in vocal and

literature areas, and have the various and substantial

vocabularies of song rhythm starting from the pop

song, dangdut, and Minangkabau rhythmic songs.

Besides, s/he must be able to act following the song

rhythm while shaking the can on her/his hand. KIM

singer is also able to respond to the atmosphere in

performance; s/he has the ability in modifying the

literature according to the number taken from the

can.

KIM singer is also responsible to provide the

paper coupons that will be given to the audiences or

participants and the number of those coupons

becomes the payment fare of KIM singer’s service

fee. Usually, for a thousand coupons, KIM singer

demands IDR 2,000,000 excluding the fee of

transportation, keyboardist, and the other technician.

Those coupons are made into five colors namely

white, light blue, light green, pink, and yellow.

Those coupons are stapled into unity until reaching a

thousand coupons. These coupons are then given to

the host of reception when these two parties meet for

doing the transaction, and it usually occurs one week

prior to the performance. Later, those coupons were

given by the host to the guests or/and audiences

according to their invitation.

3.2.3 Dices

Dices in KIM performance have various forms and

these depend on KIM singer’s fondness such as

octagonal dice, rectangular dice, and circular dice.

Those dices are made of fiber plastic with the

diameter around 2 cm. These dices are then taken by

KIM singer one by one from the cylindrical can

while singing.

Figure 2: It’s the figure of Dice Form.

(It’s the document of ISI Padangpanjang research team

and taken on 12 July 2018.)

3.2.4 Paper Coupons

Nowadays, there are five colors of paper coupons

namely white, light blue, light green, pink, and

yellow. Every coupon consists of three columns,

every column consists of two lines, and every line

consists of 9 boxes filled by 5 numbers in the

random distance. It means that every coupon

consists of six lines with 30 different numbers.

Figure 3: It’s a figure of rectangular paper coupon

containing numbers hold by KIM participant

(It’s the document of ISI Padangpanjang research team

and taken on 12 July 2018.)

Transformation of Kim Game from the Gambling Arena to the Wedding Ceremony

Numbers mentioned by KIM singer are displayed on

the projector screen according to the colors of the

coupons being played. The form and size of paper

coupons are determined by KIM player based on

her/his own style.

3.2.5 Electonic Media

a. Keyboard

In KIM performance, a keyboard is used to

accompany KIM song. The keyboard is usually

played by a person who really comprehends the

pattern of KIM game.

b. Sound System

The sound system is useful to lift up the voice of

KIM singer so all audiences or participants can hear

clearly the numbers mentioned by KIM singer and

make them easier to mark those numbers in their

own coupons.

Besides, a good sound system is also able to

liven up the songs and enliven the atmosphere. It’s

because, among the participants, some participants

are not only interested in hearing the numbers but

also hearing to and dancing with the songs sung by

KIM singer. This is also the reason why KIM

performance is more and more fancied by old and

young people day by day.

c. Laptop, Projector, and Projector Screen

In KIM performance, laptop functions as the media

for jotting down the numbers sung by KIM singer

and then projected to the screen projector. Therefore,

the laptop operator must also comprehend the

pattern of KIM game.

Before starting the game, the screen projector has

been set up by the laptop operator according to the

colors instructed by KIM singer. Therefore, the

laptop operator must have a good and high

concentration in listening to the numbers mentioned

by KIM singer.

Figure 4: It’s a figure of laptop and projector screen

containing numbers

(It’s the document of ISI Padangpanjang research team

and taken on 12 July 2018.)

In KIM performance, the projector screen assists the

audiences or participants to detect the numbers that

have been written on their cards. It can facilitate the

audiences or participants in following KIM game

because the forgotten numbers can be seen from the

screen projector.

3.2.6 Prizes

The prizes in KIM game come from several sources

namely the host, the donors, and the audience’s or

participant’s donation. Prizes usually depend on the

host and donors’ capability.

In KIM game, the big prizes are usually

contested in the pink paper coupons, while the grand

prize will be contested in the yellow paper coupons

at the end of the performance.

The change of people’s mindset from gambling

into the performing arts is one of the ways to

conserve Solok people’s art and culture. In fact, the

changes of KIM performance in the culture of its

supporting society then becomes the new repertoire

in the vocabularies of traditional music (McDermutt,

2013: 4).

3.2.7 Location of Performance

The stage form of KIM performance depends on the

host’s capability the most important thing is having

a wider area. It’s because the fans or audiences who

want to participate come from various areas even the

ones without invitation.

The host provides snacks for the participants in

the forms of fried rice, fried sweet potato, fried

banana, mineral water, and other snacks according to

the host’s capability.

3.3 Songs in KIM Performance

Songs that are often sung in KIM performance are

rhythmic and up-beat songs such as dangdut, pop,

Hindi, Malay, and Minangkabau rhythmic songs.

The following notations are the examples of

songs and pantun texts of KIM performance in

Minangkabau rhythm.

CREATIVEARTS 2019 - 1st International Conference on Intermedia Arts and Creative

1. Notation of Raja Doli Song

2. Notation of Pariaman Song

3. Notasi Lagu Anak Sipasan

3. Notation of Tan A Kong Song

4 CONCLUSIONS

There are four general conclusions derived from this

research.

a. The current KIM performance is the imitation

process of its original form therewith its

environment.

b. The metamorphosis of KIM performance

describes the character of gambling that

nowadays becomes a performing art that

functions as entertainment.

c. KIM performance is also the media used to

communicate the learning of Minangkabau

literature through the lyrics of KIM songs.

d. KIM performance is one of the forms of

Minangkabau cultural preservation.

Transformation of Kim Game from the Gambling Arena to the Wedding Ceremony

REFERENCES

Bahar, M. 2015. Menyikapi Seni Pertunjukan Tradisional

Sebagai Media Pengembangan Bangsa. In Mudra, 30,

(1), 76-82.

Hadi, Y.S. 2009. Formalisme Flural Seni Pertunjukan Tari

di DIY Sebagai Strategi Pengembangan Industri

Pariwisata Kreatif. In Panggung, 20, (2), 169-17.

Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, (KBBI V)

https://kbbi.kemdikbud.go.id 2016

McDermott, V. 2013. Imagi-Nation Membuat Musik Biasa

Jadi Luar Biasa. Art Music Today. Yogyakarta,

translated edition.

Sumiarti, L. 2015. Purpose of Arts dan Komunikasinya

dalam Transformasi Budaya (Studi Kasus Tari

Jayenggrana). In Panggung, 25, (1), 30-39.

CREATIVEARTS 2019 - 1st International Conference on Intermedia Arts and Creative