Kuling-Kuling Anca as Traditional Games in Angkola Mandailing

Ethnic based on Local Wisdom to Sharpen Intelligence

Nurhayati Harahap

, Siti Norma Nasution

Department of Indonesian literature, University Sumatera Utara

Department of English Literature, University Sumatera Utara

Keywords: Kuling-kuling anca games, sharpening intelligence, local wisdom

Abstract: Every ethnic has its own way to sharpen intelligence, both the cognitive intelligence and affective

intelligence of the next generation, including the community of Angkola Mandailing ethnic. Kuling-kuling

anca as a kind of "puzzles" is means of "using the brain" of the community, especially children to

teenagers in Angkola Mandailing while they are gathering. In the game of kuling-kuling anca, there are

various positive things, among others, sharpening intelligence and sensitivity to the environment. Kuling-

kuling anca contain valueable local wisdom which are used to make character bulding of children to

continue nation building by using the ancestral cultural heritage which are included in the local wisdom.

Nowadays, kuling-kuling anca as traditional games is rarely found, it can even be said to be almost extinct.

This study aims to describe kuling-kuling anca as one of the local wisdom of the Angkola Mandailing ethnic

games to sharpen the nation intelligence that can be used to anticipate the bad influence of online games and

gadgets. Kuling-kuling anca games were conducted in PAUD and Elementary Schools in the Angkola

Mandailing area, namely Padangsidemouan dan Gunung Tua. The kuling-kuling anca obtained were

described and presented in the form of narrative texts, videos, and interpreted through the synthesis of

content. Furthermore, it was verified that the intelligence can be illustrated and that was caused by the

kuling-kuling anca games. The result of this study is intended to be able to answer the culinary culms that

one must recognize the form, character, etc, about the answer referred to kuling-kuling anca so that the right

answers are found. Kuling-kuling anca can make someone’s intelligence is honed and able to give

satisfaction to someone who can answer them because they are superior to other people who cannot answer

them.

1 INTRODUCTION

Every ethnic group has its own way to sharpen

intelligence, both the cognitive and affective

intelligence of the next generation, including the

people of Angkola Mandailing. The people of

Angkola Mandailing are people who live in the

Angkola Mandailing area in four regency areas,

namely the South Tapanuli Regency, Mandailing

Natal Regency, North Padang Lawas Regency, and

Padang Lawas Regency (Pemerintah Kabupaten

Mandailing Natal, 2019).

Local wisodm products can sharpen intelligence

in Angkola Mandailing region one of them is kuling-

kuling anca, as a puzzle tradition that is played when

gathering in informal occasion. In line with this

opinion, Taufikin (2018) said that puzzle tradition be

able to activate students and, motivate students. The

participants can be of the same age and vary. If one of

the people gathered wants to puzzle, he will provoke

a game by saying: "kuling-kuling anca". Those who

feel interested will respond by saying: "Anca". Then,

the game of kuling-kuling anca begins. If someone

can answer the proposed puzzle, they will feel happy,

proud, and feel they can win the "competition". So, in

kuling-kuling anca game, there is joy, pride that

raises confidence, and the spirit of competition

(Komunitas Seni Mandailing Natal, 2015).

The kuling-kuling anca game is one of the way to

educate and increase sensitivity, including sensitivity

to the environment. Harahap (2012) states that

kuling-kuling anca is a culture that must be preserved

because it can sharpen the speed of thinking and

memory of children as well as a source of knowledge

information is to educate children. Kuling-kuling

anca is a culture done by collaborative model as one

way to improve students' self-confidence ( Nurhayati,

Rosmaiyadi, & Buyung, 2017).

During their childhood, researchers experienced

joy and pride when they could answer the kuling-

kuling anca questions proposed. Even what was got

366

Harahap, N. and Nasution, S.

Kuling-Kuling Anca as Traditional Games in Angkola Mandailing Ethnic based on Local Wisdom to Sharpen Intelligence.

DOI: 10.5220/0008999103660370

In Proceedings of the International Conference on Education, Language and Society (ICELS 2019), pages 366-370

ISBN: 978-989-758-405-3

either during the game or after it still bares in mind.

Thus, it can be said that the game of kuling-kuling

anca is a means to sharpen intelligence and means of

getting along, especially early childhood, namely

PAUD and elementary school students. The research

conducted by Hayati, Myrnawati, & Asmawi (2017)

concluded that there are significant differences in

children’s gross motor skill seen by traditional games.

The gross motor skill in children who given

traditional game of Boy-boyan, is higher than

children who did not give them at all. The positive

value of such local wisdom as kuling-kuling anca is a

frame for the formation of the character of the

nation's children who will become the next generation

of nations.

Nowadays, the game of kuling-kuling anca is

almost extinct (Badrunsyah, 2013). Early childhood

and elementary school children are now presented

with online games and the use of gadgets. This results

in children today being less able to get along, lack the

sense of respect, less concerned with the difficulties

faced by others, rarely cooperate, and become

individualistic beings. Even, children begin to be

insensitive to their surroundings. Children are more

familiar with foreign terms and feel familiar with the

terms around them (Selamat, dkk., 2016).

Child and adolescent psychologist from the

Applied Psychology Institute of University of

Indonesia, Vera Itabiliana Hadiwidjojo said the

communication device or gadget made children

become individualists. Meanwhile, the fundraising

manager of the Putera Sempoerna Foundation, Imran

Razy, said that they invited families in the country to

share with each other in order to create a generation

full of empathy and caring (Razy, 2014).

There needs to be an effort that can bring children

closer to each other and their environment. The game

of kuling-kuling anca can foster concern and sharpen

children's intelligence. Concern and association can

grow because in the game of kuling-kuling anca there

is an interaction between the questioner and the

answerer. It can make intimate atmosphere between

people. Intelligence arises because the participants of

the kuling-kuling anca are invited to think.

2 THEORETICAL REVIEW

This research is conducted based on the field of local

wisdom. Local wisdom by the some people is made

as a basis in environment management based on

sustainable development (Mawardi, 2011).

A similar opinion was expressed by Sibarani

(2012) that local wisdom is the wisdom or original

knowledge of a community originating from the

noble values of cultural traditions to regulate the

order of people's lives. Local wisdom is also defined

as a local cultural value that can be used to regulate

the life structure of the community wisely. Dahliani,

Soemarno, Setijanti (2015) said that local wisdom

means harmonious relationship between man, nature

and the built environment in an area that is also

influenced by its culture. More broadly, Keraff

(2010) states that local wisdom is a form of

knowledge, belief, understanding, or insight as well

as customs or ethics that guide human behavior in life

within an ecological community.

Sibarani (2012) mentions the types of local

wisdom that are divided into two. The first is wisdom

for peace which consists of politeness, honesty, social

solidarity, harmony and resolution of conflict,

commitment, positive thoughts, and gratitude. The

second type of local wisdom is for welfare which

consists of hard work, discipline, education, health,

mutual cooperation, gender management, cultural

preservation and creativity, and caring for the

environment. Kartika (2016) said that local wisdom

contains five pillars are known as PAKSA (Pray,

Attitude, Knowledge, Skill, Actions). In this study

the local wisdom that will be studied is the values of

local wisdom contained in the kuling-kuling anca

tradition of Angkola Mandailing. The value of local

wisdom contained in the kuling-kuling anca tradition

is expected to be able to form the character of the

nation's children as early as possible.

The object of the study is oral literature in the

form of kuling-kuling anca. In this study the value of

local wisdom contained in the game of kuling-kuling

anca will be revealed. From the field research and

literature, local wisdom will be obtained which can

sharpen the intelligence of the nation's children and

positive association to anticipate the bad influence of

online games and the use of gadgets.

3 RESEARCH METHOD

This study applied a qualitative approach because the

goal is to explore, discover, express, and explain the

meaning of the object of research in depth. In

addition, qualitative research is aim to express an

empirical facts in an objective, scientific manners

based on logic, science, procedure, method, and

theory. In connection with the object of research is

the kuling-kuling anca, the data is analyzed based on

the interpretation theory (hermeneutics), with the

content analysis technique. In accordance with the

opinion of Endaswara (2008) that content analysis

Kuling-Kuling Anca as Traditional Games in Angkola Mandailing Ethnic based on Local Wisdom to Sharpen Intelligence

367

can be used if the research objective is to reveal

certain values in literary works, among others,

include: (a) moral messages, (b) educational values,

welfare values etc. This approach is suitable to

answer the research objectives to uncover

environmental values contained in the kuling-kuling

anca of Angkola Mandailing culture.

Researchers used the Focus Group Discussion

(FGD) technique with the community to obtain

information on the kuling-kuling anca of Angkola

Mandailing. Collection of kuling-kuling anca

verbally, obtained through recording from

informants, as well as from the text of the puzzle

obtained from various sources.

Data analysis was carried out according to

Miles and Huberman's theory, namely: (1) Data

reduction, through the data selection process, focus,

simplification, and raw data of the kuling-kuling anca

of Angkola Mandailing which is the object of

research and (2) Data presentation, in the form of a

description of kuling-kuling anca is presented in the

form of narrative texts and tables relating to the

kuling-kuling anca of Angkola Mandailing.

4 RESEARCH RESULTS

The results of the research on kuling-kuling anca

regarding the sharpening of children's intelligence

include the following:

1. Kuling-kuling Acca ( Part question)

Aha sambalta? Di dia au?. Aso dijawab

haduana sarontak (What is our menu?

Where a I?). (How can you answer both

question simultaneously?)

Ahamai?(guess what)?’

Anca ( Part answer)

The answer: di kantor i (means in leaving

room and close in spelling to a name of fish for

menu, namely ikan tori)

2. Kuling-kuling anca (Part question):

Marsisik inda ihan, marpayung inda raja

(Scaly not fish, shaded with umbrella not a

ling)

Ahamai? (What is it?)’

Acca (Part answer)

The answer: Honas (Pinaple)

To answer the kuling-kuling anca number 1, of

course, someone must know the form, character, etc.

about ikantori (name of fish) and di kantor + i (living

room) is one part of the house in the community of

Angkola Mandailing. Both the questioner and the

answerer must use their reasoning about the kuling-

kuling anca so that there will be a process of

interaction between the two parties. More details

about kuling-kuling anca number 1, there are two

questions that will be a one-word answer. The first

question is "what is our menu" and the second

question "where are we now". The answerer thinks

that regarding the dishes is anchovy (ikan tori) and

the one in the living room (di kantor i). As such, the

answer is a combination of word "ikan tori" and "di

kantor i" to be an (d)ikan tor(i).

In relation to the kuling-kuling anca that was

asked for honas (pineapple), both parties had to

recognize the characteristics of pineapple, namely

having a hat (crown) like a king and having scales

like fish. Based on the character of this pineapple, it

can create a kuling-kuling anca by assuming that it

has scales and crowns. Pineapple is a plant that

produces fresh fruit as an energy source as Hossain,

Akhtar, &Anwar (2015) said that the ripen pineapple

fruit is consumed fresh and juice as source of

essential minerals and vitamins with some medicinal

values. Thus, the answer is pineapple symbolized as

fish and king.

To solve the problem which is asked in kuling-

kuling anca, critical estimate is very necessary.

Harahap (2012) mentions that the kuling-kuling anca

is very powerful to nurture the speed of thinking and

remembering of a child. Besides that, the ability to

master the majors in literary works needs to be

owned. Language style in puzzles are metaphors.

This is in line with the opinion of Nurazizah (2018)

mentioning that the traditional riddles of other terms

of kuling-kuling anca have a double meaning that is

expressed in a metaphorical style that requires

intelligence and careful thinking. Metaphor is the use

of a word or groups of words rather than with the true

meaning, but as a painting based on equality or

comparison (online version of KBBI). The aim is to

express a meaning by emphasizing the impression

that will be caused

(https://www.maxmanroe.com/vid/umum/majas-

metafora).

Safira, Sa’diyah, & Qutsiyyah (2012) mentioned

that traditional puzzles can be made to test one’s

intelligence because many puzzles can not be

answered by the power of thinking only, but the

answer should be known first. Thus, puzzle requires

mastery of the types of language and habits in life. To

support the fact mentioned, Utami (2014) said that

the implementations of crossword puzzles and the

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complementary action were successful to help the

students understand new words and learn English

better.

One of the tips for kuling-kuling anca as an oral

tradition is to make it a habit so that someone allows

it to become a necessity in order to sharpen

intelligence. In the people of Angkola Mandailing,

the kuling-kuling anca games were chosen for leisure

time and when one family gathered at home. Also

fellow friends who gather at home in certain places as

traditional games and become solace. Sukatman in

Nurazizah (2018) interpreted traditional puzzles to

function as values education instruments and cultural

communication media and Kayra (2016) said that one

of primary merit of traditional games is that they

foster children's communication skills.

The Angkola Mandailing community that has

been familiar with and know the kuling-kuling anca

will feel that they are already knowledgeable and feel

more informed about their friends. The same is true in

the opinion of Safira, Sa'diyah, & Qutsiyyah (2018)

that people who know the puzzle most will get

satisfaction, because they will be known as someone

who is knowledgeable about folklore. Brockmann,

Delhey, Welzel, & Yuan (2019) added that cina

puzzle can make someone happiness. This will be

even more important if he dwells in traditional

societies.

5 CONCLUSIONS

To solve the problem that was asked in the Angking

Mandailing kuling-kuling critical thinking skills is

needed. This is due to the fact that the kuling-kuling

anca can sharpen one's intelligence and by that one

will get satisfaction.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Author would like to thank USU Rector for funding

this Research. Then the thanks is also sent to the

Faculty of Cultural Science Dean who allowed the

Indonesian Letter Study Program to be the place for

this research. Last but not least, thanks are also

conveyed to the organizers of The 1st ICELS

(International Conference on Education, Language,

and Society) seminar who accepted these article to

be delivered in parallel session.

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