Yogyakarta, 12/06/2025 – The Department of Anthropology held a dissertation proposal seminar on June 12, 2025, featuring Tri Isnani’s research titled “The Existence of the Brandu Tradition Amid the Anthrax Outbreak in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY).”

The brandu tradition is a community-based fundraising practice in which local residents collectively contribute money to ease the financial burden of livestock owners whose animals are either sick or have died. Livestock holds deep cultural and economic significance for the community. The term brandu originates from minterke anak—meaning “to support a child”—highlighting the role of animals such as cows and goats as a form of savings, often used to finance children’s education, weddings, and traditional ceremonies such as rasulan, ingkung sewu, nyumbang, and others.

However, Isnani noted growing public concern over the anthrax outbreak, which has become a serious public health crisis in the region. The issue has drawn the attention of not only the public but also government bodies and health agencies. In response, Isnani proposed a deeper investigation through the lens of medical anthropology.

Prof. Dr. Atik Triratnawati, M.A., as Isnani’s main supervisor, and Dr. M. Choirul Hidajat, SKM., M.Kes., both emphasized the need for anthropological research grounded in an emic perspective, employing ethnographic methods in the formulation of health-related programs and policies. They stressed that such an approach is crucial for effective disease control under the “One Health” framework—a multidisciplinary strategy encompassing both prevention and treatment.

The seminar also featured Dr. Elan A. Lazuardi, a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology with a focus on health studies. He underlined the importance of researcher positionality in fieldwork. Additional discussants—Ahriyadi Sofyan, Rizqi R., Ayu F., and Dyah Ayu—offered constructive feedback to help strengthen Isnani’s research. The event was also attended by students from the Master’s and Doctoral programs in Anthropology, as well as from the Doctoral Program in Humanities.

In closing, Prof. Dr. Atik Triratnawati reminded participants that doctoral research should arrive at a philosophical understanding rooted in community values—specifically, exploring the deeper meaning behind the brandu tradition. Once such a philosophy is grasped, it can shape the direction of the research more profoundly.

Furthermore, Dr. M. Choirul Hidajat, a researcher at BRIN (National Research and Innovation Agency), highlighted the relevance of anthropological perspectives in medical studies. He emphasized that the novelty of such research lies in anthropology’s ability to interpret health phenomena in culturally grounded ways. “This is crucial,” he said. “Perhaps the true contribution of this study is its potential to offer input into health programs that empower, rather than intimidate, the community—ultimately supporting inclusive program development.”

[Cultural Anthropology, Dewi Widyastuti]

Lexicon, a journal published by the English Studies Programme, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, with the English Studies Association in Indonesia (ESAI), achieved national accreditation by Kementrian Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi Republik Indonesia (Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology). Currently, Lexicon is accredited as a SINTA (Science and Technology Index) 3 journal.

Lexicon is a biannual journal that releases a new issue every April and October. Lexicon publishes articles in linguistics (focusing on pragmatics, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, and translation) and literature (focusing on interpreting short stories, novels, plays, and poems). Submission to the Lexicon journal is free and is always open throughout the year. The writers can be from any region of the globe, but submission is strictly restricted to articles written in English.

Link to Lexicon: http://jurnal.ugm.ac.id/lexicon 

This article is already published on https://english.fib.ugm.ac.id/2024/01/26/appreciation-post-lexicon-categorized-as-a-sinta-3-journal/ 

Sleman (9/11/2023) – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB-UGM) and the Sleman Regency Cultural Office (Kundha Kabudayan) presented the results of a study of intangible cultural objects that have the potential to be designated as the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (WBTB) at Puri Mataram, Sleman. The presentation of this study is intended to provide recommendations for the Culture Office in determining WBTB.

“There are ten cultural objects found in four sub-districts, including in Minggir, Tempel, Pakem, Turi,” said Imam Prakoso as the head of the inventory and WBTB study team from FIB at Puri Mataram on 9 November 2023.

Furthermore, according to Imam, the ten cultural objects include art, traditional knowledge, and oral tradition. In the scope of art, there are sholawat katolik, sholawat pitutur, rodat, keroncong tunas mekar, and reog campursari eko budoyo. Meanwhile, traditional knowledge includes the culinary delights of duck bacem nglengis, jamu gendong gesikan, and the market economy system. The last is oral tradition in the form of ngelmu titen Gunung Merapi and the Legend of Turgo Hill.

“Every cultural object has the potential to be designated as WBTB, but it needs to be considered again in accordance with the context of the implementation of the Law on Cultural Promotion Objects,” said Imam.

In addition, the Head of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Division, Dekhi Nugroho, said that the purpose of this activity is the first step to determine intangible cultural heritage. This is related to the unevenness of the types of culture designated from the Sleman Regency area, apart from the realm of art.

“The establishment of intangible cultural heritage is still minimal in the field of art. Therefore, the inventory and study of intangible cultural heritage aims to look more broadly at the potential of other forms of culture such as traditional knowledge embodied by culinary, so that it can be optimised into the economic realm to advance the welfare of the community,” said Dekhi.

The Dissemination of Inventory and Study of WBTB of Sleman Regency 2023 involved a team of lecturers from Faculty of Arts UGM consisting of Imam Prakoso, M.A, as the chairman with members Dr. Mimi Savitri, M.A., Dr. Suzie Handayani, M.A., Agus Indiyanto, M.Si, Aditya Revianur, M.Hum., and Dama Qory Arjanto, M.Si. The team was also assisted by FIB UGM students as cultural data collection assistants, including Ervita Ninda Iswantari Siti Nur Aqidatul Izza Ulfa Ifatul N Ridho Qholbi Nurvania Rachmah.

Regional Championship II, National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Yogyakarta Special Region took place on Tuesday (3/10) and officially closed on Saturday afternoon (7/10). The closing ceremony took place at the Sports Hall (GOR) Mercu Buana University (UMBY) Bantul Regency. On this occasion, one of the Mahadayas also contributed the winning trophy in the Classic Chess and Fast Chess sports. This is Aulia Rachmi Kurnia, a student at the Indonesian Language and Literature Study Program FIB UGM.

Congratulations to Aulia!

On October 31, 2023, Prof. Dr. Inajati Adrisijanti received a very prestigious award, namely the 2023 Cultural Award. This award was given directly by the Governor of DIY, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, in a ceremony held at Bangsal Kepatihan. Prof Inajati is one of 25 figures selected to receive this award in the Conservation or Cultural Actor category.

The 2023 Cultural Award is an appreciation and thanks from the DIY Regional Government on behalf of all the people of DIY. This award is given as a tribute to the commitment, dedication, real action, and consistency of cultural actors and local wisdom preservers in DIY. This is concrete evidence that DIY always appreciates and supports efforts to maintain and preserve regional culture, which is a valuable asset in building identity and sustainability of the social and cultural life of the DIY community.

Prof. Dr. Inajati Adrisijanti feels very honored to receive this award. He expressed his deep gratitude. In his confession, he revealed that he never dreamed or expected to receive an award of this magnitude. For him, the 2023 Cultural Award is a form of appreciation that should be given to cultural conservationists, artists, and cultural figures in DIY. He also with strong determination promised to continue the duties and activities he had carried out to honor the good name and advance the culture of DIY.

According to Prof. Dr. Inajati, this award is not only a personal achievement but also a reminder for him to continue working and be an inspiration for future generations. For him, this role is very important, considering the potential danger that the younger generation may be more tempted by foreign cultures and forget their own. However, he emphasized the importance that one can understand and appreciate foreign cultures without forgetting one’s cultural roots. This award, thus, strengthens his determination to be a pioneer in preserving and developing the richness of DIY culture and making it an irreplaceable source of inspiration for future generations.