The Tradition of Mappano’ Lolo as Ritual Communication of the Bugis Bone Community

Abstract

The Mappano' Lolo ritual is a tradition conducted by the Bugis Bone community as a cultural heritage of their ancestors. This ritual, which is conducted as a part of the akikah process, is performed for a newborn child. This tradition is full of symbols, meanings, and cultural values that are unique for the Bugis ethnic. This research was conducted to examine more deeply the process of implementing the Mappano' Lolo tradition, its meanings, and its values. This is a qualitative research with a communication semiotic approach. Semiotics has been widely used for research on cultural traditions because this approach is considered capable of explaining in detail the meaning of cultural values which are full of symbols. Community life will never be separated from hereditary traditions since ancient times. This is because tradition is considered capable of providing positive values in human life who are competing every day with modernization. A good tradition that is in line with religious and cultural values must be preserved and saved so that it is not eroded by era.