Islam, National, and Local History in Tabbhuwan Walisanga Performance Art
Authors: Hidayatullah Panakajaya 
Published: December 2020

Tabbhuwân is a Madurese tradition of performing arts. In the present context, modern culture influences many young people. It has become a restlessness for the clerics who then think of strategies on how to incorporate Islamic values in the younger generation today. In 2015 in Situbondo, Wali Sanga boarding school established a tabbhuwân wali sanga art group. Tabbhuwân is considered a way of preaching according to the conditions and culture of the community of Madura Situbondo. The players consist of the santri of the younger generation of Islamic boarding schools. Tabbhuwân wali sanga features Islamic drama performances that elevate the play of Islamic history and Indonesia. The play included Islamic history (stories of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad), local history, the history of the entry of Islam on Java (walisanga), and the history of Indonesian independence, one of which was titled ‘Jihad Resolution.’ Besides, tabbhuwân also includes elements of Madurese culture, including language, traditional music, expression, decoration, and discourse. Tabbhuwân plays a role in the spread of Islam, preserving Madurese culture and instilling nationalism in society through historical themes. The lower-middle-class community assumes that tabbhuwân is a means to understand the historical, social, and cultural realities occurring today. Tabbhuwân also influences fostering a sense of nationalism through heroic historical values, especially to the younger generation. In this case, tabhuwân imagines Indonesia in the discourse of religious nationalism. Islam, Nasional, dan Sejarah Lokal dalam Seni Pertunjukan Tabbhuwan Walisanga. TabbhuwânadalahsenipertunjukantradisimasyarakatMadura.Dalamkontekskekinian, budaya modern banyak mempengaruhi kaum muda. Hal ini menjadi keresahan para ulama yang kemudian memikirkan strategi bagaimana memasukkan nilai-nilai Islam pada generasi muda saat ini. Pada tahun 2015 di Situbondo, Pondok Pesantren Wali Sanga mendirikan kelompok seni tabbhuwân wali sanga. Tabbhuwân dianggap sebagai cara dakwah yang sesuai dengan kondisi dan budaya masyarakat Madura Situbondo. Para pemainnya terdiri dari para santri generasi muda pondok pesantren. Tabbhuwân wali sanga menampilkan pertunjukan drama Islam yang mengangkat lakon sejarah Islam dan Indonesia. Lakon tersebut meliputi sejarah Islam (cerita para sahabat Nabi Muhammad), sejarah lokal, sejarah masuknya Islam di Jawa (walisanga), dan sejarah kemerdekaan Indonesia, salah satunya bertajuk ‘Resolusi Jihad’. Selain itu, tabbhuwân juga memasukkan unsur budaya Madura yang meliputi bahasa, musik tradisional, ekspresi, ragam hias dan wacana. Tabbhuwân berperan dalam penyebaran agama Islam, pelestarian budaya Madura dan menanamkan nasionalisme dalam masyarakat melalui tema sejarah. Masyarakat kelas menengah ke bawah menganggap tabbhuwân sebagai cara memahami realitas sejarah, sosial dan budaya yang terjadi saat ini. Tabbhuwân juga memiliki pengaruh dalam menumbuhkan rasa nasionalisme melalui nilai-nilai sejarah yang heroik, khususnya kepada generasi muda. Dalam hal ini, tabhuwân membayangkan Indonesia dalam wacana nasionalisme agama.