The Potential of Songah Art in Citengah Village

Songah traditional music from Citengah Village -

Alip Purnomo

Songah Art Potency In Citengah Village

The Covid-19 pandemic that has infected this earth has affected most sectors of our lives and caused unfortunate

even misserable impacts on economic, social, and community activities all over the world. One sector that has been heavily impacted is tourism, especially tourist villages. A survey conducted by the Tourism Village Institute in April 2020 showed that the tourist villages that were the respondents had closed their tourism activities. In March 2020, 49% of tourist villages lost potential income of around 25 million rupiah; 35.1% potential loss of income between 25 million rupiah to 100 million rupiah; and 15.5% have the potential to lose more than 100 million rupiah in income.

Government Regulation Number 23 of 2020 concerning the Implementation of the National Economic Recovery Program (PEN) aims to stabilise the financial system and provide new instruments to minimise the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the village economy. In 2021, village funds will be used primarily for economic recovery during the pandemic by targeting three aspects, one of which is the development of tourist villages. Based on data from the Association of Indonesian Tourism Villages, there are currently 1,302 tourist villages in Indonesia. The top six rankings: 138 tourist villages in West Java, 132 villages in Central Java, 114 villages in East Java, 92 villages in East Nusa Tenggara, 87 villages in North Sumatra, and 57 villages in DI Yogyakarta. The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy targets 244 certified tourist villages to become independent tourist villages by 2024.

Tourism village also covers micro and small businesses. The ability of tourist villages to absorb labour cannot be underestimated. Nationally, 63,350,222 micro-enterprise units were able to absorb 107,376,540 workers. The 783,132 small-scale business units are able to absorb around 5,831,256 workers. This potential is expected to stimulate the rise of a rural-based community economy. The Sumedang Regent, in a meeting with 11 regional heads and the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy in March 2021, said that a 360-degree virtual tour is currently being developed. The virtual tour is expected to make it easier for tourists to access information on tourist destinations, one of which is in Citengah Village.

Songah brings joy -

Alip Purnomo

From Pine Forest to Curug

Citengah Village is located in South Sumedang District, Sumedang Regency, West Java. Topographically, Citengah Village is located on the slopes of a mountain with an altitude of approximately 501-1000 meters above sea level. This village has an area of 3,406 hectares or 30.61% of the total area of South Sumedang District. Citengah village is a fertile village, has many springs, and is

A piece musical instrument for songah - Directorate General of Culture

surrounded by several rivers, such as the Cihonje River, Citengah River, and the Citundun River.

Citengah Village has stunning natural scenery. Pine forests, waterfalls, Margawindu tea plantations, historical sites, and river views, are the mainstay tourism objects of Sumedang Regency. Access to Citengah Village is relatively easy to reach. There are also 23 waterfalls that have not been arranged and managed properly.

Apart from the private sector, tourism in Citengah Village is also managed by the Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes), which is currently developing the management of tourist parking services as well as securing tea and pine resin gardens. Until now, Karya Mukti BUMDes has been able to generate up to 30 million rupiah. Although not a fantastic number, this revenue is capital and at the same time optimism, that village tourism management can continue to develop and become the focus of the business. Currently, the village government is trying to build a terminal which will also be developed for water tourism, because its position is close to the Cihonje River.

The tourism sector in Citengah Village contributes to Village Original Income (PAD). In 2021, Citengah Village PAD will contribute 7.3 per cent to the APBDes which amounts to approximately 1.5 billion rupiah. Amid the pandemic and the sluggish tourism sector, this figure can certainly increase optimism for the development of village tourism in the future.

Songah Arts

Traditional art is a potential that can be developed as a tourism attraction. Traditional art has the required strengths in tourism products, namely uniqueness, authenticity, originality, and diversity. Citengah village has a distinctive art namely songah or songong Citengah.

Songah is a musical instrument made of tamiang bamboo. Songah is capable of producing a low-frequency sound, similar to a bass gong. The existence of songah also shows how the surrounding community interacts with their nature and creatively uses the resources around them to be used as artistic tools. The existence of bamboo in Citengah Village is quite abundant. In addition to art, bamboo is also used for daily needs, such as building houses, cooking utensils and so on.

Songah comes from the word songong which is a tool used to blow hawu (a stove for cooking) and ngah which indicates the identity of the region, Citengah Village. Songsong is usually played with other traditional musical instruments such as

Songsong Kendang - Directorate General of Culture.

the flute and the harp. The combination of songah and other traditional musical instruments brings listeners into a unique spiritual experience.

Songah is often played during hajat lembur (working overtime) ritual, a tradition of gratitude by caring for nature which consists of various other activities, namely ruwat jagat, art performances, and karuhun pilgrimages. Songah was even featured in the opening ceremony

of the Paragliding World Championship in Sumedang Regency in 2019. Songsong also participated in the 2014 People’s Party.

Slowly, songah can not only be enjoyed by residents of Citengah Village but also nationally and even internationally. Songah events can be complemented by traditional children’s games such as egrang (stilts) and gatrik which are still played by children in Citengah.

The potential for historical tourism has also been explored, for example, remnants of the Dutch colonial heritage (a lorry rail to transport tea commodities) and the graves of a number of scholars, the founders of Citengah Village, as well as important figures from the Sumedang kingdom.

Post-pandemic Opportunities

A number of experts have predicted a change in travel trends after the pandemic. People will prefer tourist destinations that are nature-based, rural and have characteristics, both in terms of customs and unique arts. This is truly good news for Citengah Village. Therefore, the village must improve itself while also adapting to new habits.

Of course, the village isn’t working alone. There must be efforts and support from various parties. So far, Citengah Village already has the capital of supporting natural conditions, creative human resources, unique traditional arts, and BUMDes who are experienced in managing village tourism. The support of the village government through village funds in building infrastructure is also there. Likewise, the support of the district government has begun with promoting their tourist destinations through virtual tour programmes.

The role of the central government is expected to be able to encourage village tourism with various programmes, for example, efforts to improve hygiene, health and safety standards through the Clean, Health, Safety & Environmental Sustainability (CHSE) program. The role of the private sector and banks is also expected in developing tourism infrastructure in the village, including providing access to capital for the community through MSMEs engaged in the tourism sector. This synergy is expected to be able to revive the village tourism sector which was ravaged by the pandemic. The hope is that the environment and health-based rural economy will be excited again. Let’s start from the village (Steve Christiantara,

Akatiga Researcher).

Songah’s bamboo tunes - Directorate General of Culture.