Manopot Hula-Hula Tradition as a Toba Batak Cultural Communication Strategy in Requesting Blessings
Abstract
The manopothula-hula tradition in the Toba Batak community is a cultural communication practice that functions as a mechanism for requesting blessings and gaining social legitimacy in the dalihan na tolu kinship system. This tradition places the hula-hula as a source of honor and a customary decision maker, so that the process of requesting blessings is not only personal, but also has a social dimension that determines the harmony of relations between families. This study aims to describe the form of cultural communication strategies in the manopothula-hula tradition and identify the verbal and nonverbal elements used in conveying the intention of requesting blessings. The method used is descriptive qualitative with a library study approach through analysis of anthropological literature, folklore, cultural communication, and Toba Batak customary studies. Data were analyzed using descriptive-interpretive techniques by grouping themes of verbal communication, nonverbal communication, ritual structure, and the social function of tradition. The results show that manopothula-hula uses verbal communication strategies in the form of polite speech, umpasa, and indirect language that function to maintain politeness and avoid conflict. Nonverbal strategies are demonstrated through gestures of respect, body positions, and the use of traditional symbols such as ulos, which reinforce messages of sincerity. This tradition also has a multi-stage ritual structure that emphasizes communication as a collective process, while also reinforcing solidarity and social hierarchy within the dalihan na tolu tradition. This study concludes that manopothula-hula is a form of ritual communication that plays a vital role in the continuity of Toba Batak cultural identity, despite its adaptations in the context of modernization. This study recommends field research to strengthen the empirical findings and local variations in practice.
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