Mapping the socio-religious spaces of a kampong: a case of Kauman Semarang

Abstract

Cultural identity and creativity in diversity rise up as dominant issues in international development agenda. Identity is an important element of a nation to show who the citizens really are in the era of globalization. The existence of an urban kampong is often marginalized due to 'bad' infrastructure and social conditions. But a kampong as the residence of common people in the city center is also recognized as a successful place in reflecting human values. Kauman is a kampong where people live around the city’s great mosque and demonstrate characters of a devout Muslim community in the Javanese traditional city. In Semarang Kauman is a pioneer of a city characterized by the social life of non-elite class, coastal Islamic culture, and trading activities. The role as a spiritual-religious area has been continually attached to Kauman since the Mataram Kingdom’s era to the present despite different improvisation of developments. At this moment Kauman seems to experience the effects of Johar Market burning in 2016. As a kampong with stories of the history of the city's development, Kauman has many local cultures that potentially become a city identity. However, the condition of infrastructure and socio-cultural aspect appears to be in degradation due to aging and modernization-capitalization pressure from its surroundings. This research aims to explore the spatial phenomenon influenced by socio-religious aspect that makes Kauman able to survive with the identity of a 'religious spiritual' place. This research employed ethnographic methods. The results showed that socio-religious values influenced community’s everyday life and encouraged the community participation in the making of place.