History and Culture of Gayo Ethnic

HISTORY  OF  GAYO ETHNIC

Gayo is one of the alot of tribes in Aceh who inhabit the Bukit Barisan mountains. In some ways Gayo tribe is divided into several sub-ethnic: gayo Lut, Gayo Deret, Gayo Blang and Gayo Serbejadi. Their geographical location is separated by natural boundaries so they are difficult to connect with others. Administratively these groups inhabited several districts in Aceh province, including: Central Aceh District, Bener Meriah, Gayo Lues and SotheastAceh.

History

Gayo word derived from "pegayon" means a place of that has clear water where the place of fish and crabs are clean. Gayo culture has existed since Gayo people inhabited the 4th-century plateau of Gayo and then began to develop during the first Linge kingdom of the 10th century.  When marcopolo come to peurlak kingdom he makes a note about gayo in his travel record, when he stopped at the Peurlak kingdom, returned from China and on his way back to Italy, in 1292. on his recorded said that when Marco Polo stopped at Perlak kingdom in 1292, he found that the people of Perlak had been convert to Islam And People who do not want to convert to Islam have left the countryside. The inland indigenous people call the area "Linge" and refer to its king as Ghayo. 

Islam entered Gayo in the 11th century brought by an Arab scholar named Said Syech Ibrahim. He goes to Gayo Lues from Wih Ben (now the area is called Bayen). In Wih Ben area there is a Dayah / Pesantren (Islamic School) named Zawiyah Cot Kala. Dayah is the first dayah standing in Aceh which produces many Islamic preachers who later became the spreader of Islam in Aceh.

Previously the kingdom of linge was part of the peurlak kingdom . Under the leadership of Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Ibrahim Shah Johan, They open a new area as the base of his kingdom around area Lokop Serba Jadi. This is the forerunner of Linge's kingdom. At the time of the formation of this kingdom. Kingdom Perlak was attacked by the Srivijaya. Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Ibrahim Shah Johan returned to Perlak to seize the kingdom of Perlak which had been controlled by the Srivijaya. He led the struggle against Srivijaya until 1006. For twenty years of fighting against the kingdom of Sriwijaya, Sultan Makhdum Alaiddin Malik Ibrahim Shah Johan ordered some peoples  who still  remaining in Lokop Serbe jadi area to survive in the mountains. after the peoples get ordered from sultan They move about 34 km into the depths to open a new area.  One proof of Linge Kingdom relationship with Perlak kingdom is the set of Reje Linge which among other things reads in the coin of their currency ".... Lingga State Perlak Aceh "

After That gayo state always be part of Aceh Kingdom untill Dutch Colonial come:

Dutch colonials first entered the Gayo Land in 1904 it caused the Dutch desire in conquering the entire region of Aceh and the potential of Arabica coffee plantations, tobacco and Damar is very suitable to be planted in the area. 

Gayo Building take by dutch photographer

Culture

As according to cultural Anthropology Culture of gayo tribe  closer to the culture of Batak tribe. This is evidenced by the cultural similarities between them. Meanwhile, when compared with the culture of the tribe of Aceh Gayo culture such as Didong art, pepongoten, sebuku, melengkan, munenes, saman have been different from the culture of Aceh tribe. 

The types of Gayo culture are as follows: 

• .      Didong

Didong is a Gayo folk art that combines elements of dance, vocals, and literature. Didong started since the time of Reje Linge XIII. Initially didong function is a means for the spread of Islam through the media poetry. In its development, didong not only played on the big days of Islam, but also in traditional ceremonies such as weddings, circumcisions, home building, harvest, welcome guests and others.

Didong Gayo

• .      Saman Dance

Saman Dance is a Gayo Tribe dance that is usually performed to celebrate important events in tradition. Saman dance uses two elements of motion that become elementary element in saman dance, that is by applause and pat chest. In general, saman dance is played by dozens of men, but the number must be odd.

saman dance

• .      Guel Dance

Guel dance is one of the cultural treasures of Gayo in Aceh. Guel means rang. Especially in the highland area of gayo, this dance has a long and unique story. The researchers and dance choreographers say this dance is not just a dance. He is a composite of literary art, music art and dance art itself. Guel is fully appreciated of the natural form, the surroundings are then strung together in a way through symbolic motion and the beat of rhythm.

guel dance

• .      Kerawang

Kerawang or often called "Kerawang Gayo" (Narration in Gayo); Is Gayo Tribal Clothes Usually used when conducting Wedding Reception events, traditional dances and cultural events from generation to generation. Kerawang Itself Is the result of human creations of karsa who became the aesthetic value in the behavior of life that later became the culture. While culture itself is the result of human reflection with nature. 

Motif of kerawang gayo

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