RELASI STRUKTUR MASYARAKAT DAN TATA ZONASI PERMUKIMAN ADAT DI DESA NGGELA, ENDE-FLORES

Abstract

The Adat settlement of Nggela Village (Desa Nggela) is a traditional village in the Ende Regency of Flores Island, one of the Lesser Sunda Islands in the Indonesian archipelago. It is a vernacular settlement strictly regulated by layers of adat codes and practices, and governed by a unique organizational structure. The whole settlement is divided into several zones. These reflect three cultural dimensions. First, the historical journey the community has undertaken; second the cosmological beliefs of the people, third the environment within which the village is located. This article demonstrates how each of these elements has determined the spatial laying out of the village. The analysis of interrelationships suggests the emergence of values pertaining to beliefs; the function of the village as a living space for the whole community; and a container for various symbolic meanings. In so doing, the study demonstrates the more dominating and determining position of the adat advisory board members in governing day-to-day life of the settlement in comparison to the actual roles undertaken by members of the Desa Nggela’s adat leadership.