Cultural Appropriation as Local Identity: The Case of Dangdut Makassar

Abstract

This study examines cultural appropriation in dangdut Makassar. While existing studies on dangdut and cultural appropriation tend to emphasize musical hybridity or commercialization, they rarely examine the role of local community agency in transforming appropriated forms into recognized local identities. Employing a qualitative approach with data collected through observation, interviews, documentation, and literature review, the analysis was conducted using data triangulation to ensure validity. Fieldwork was conducted in Makassar through observations of live performances and community events, complemented by in-depth interviews with musicians, cultural practitioners, and audience members. The findings reveal three main factors driving cultural appropriation in dangdut Makassar: musical, economic, and socio-cultural factors. Borrowings from Malay, Arab, Sundanese, koplo, and Western musical styles appear in melodic structures, arrangements, and performance practices. Despite these external influences, dangdut Makassar is widely perceived as a distinctive local identity due to regional cultural markers such as traditional costumes, local instruments (pui-pui, kacaping, and gandrang), and the use of the Makassar language in its lyrics. Furthermore, dangdut Makassar is broadly accepted and utilized in various community contexts, including economic activities, political events, socio-cultural practices, and digital or technological spaces. These findings suggest that cultural appropriation in dangdut Makassar should be understood not as a unidirectional borrowing process, but as a socially negotiated practice through which external influences are localized, legitimized, and re-signified as markers of regional identity.