Palu — Traditional leaders in the Kaili community play a crucial role in preserving cultural messages about marriage through structured communication rituals. This finding comes from research conducted by Novia Miranda, Dr. Ilyas Lampe, and Dr. Sitti Murni Kaddi from the Master’s Program in Communication Science, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Tadulako University, Indonesia. Their study, published in 2026 in the East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, explores how indigenous leaders communicate cultural values during marriage ceremonies in West Dolo District, Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi, and why these traditions remain important in modern society.
The research highlights that marriage in the Kaili community is not viewed merely as a personal union between two individuals. Instead, it is a collective cultural event involving families, elders, and community leaders. Through traditional communication practices embedded in wedding rituals, indigenous leaders transmit moral guidance, social norms, and cultural identity to younger generations.
In many indigenous communities across Indonesia, modernization has begun to reshape cultural traditions. Younger generations are increasingly exposed to global influences, while traditional rituals may gradually fade if they are not actively preserved. For the Kaili people of Central Sulawesi, marriage ceremonies have long served as one of the most important cultural spaces where values about family responsibility, social harmony, and respect for elders are communicated publicly.
The study conducted by Novia Miranda and colleagues places this tradition in a broader context of cultural preservation. Communication scholars have long recognized that rituals function as powerful cultural communication systems. In the Kaili community, indigenous leaders act not only as ceremonial figures but also as cultural communicators who interpret and deliver traditional messages through speeches, symbols, and ritual actions.
To understand this process, the researchers used a qualitative approach based on ethnography of communication. This method focuses on how communication occurs in cultural settings and how meaning is constructed through language, symbols, and social interaction. The research team conducted field observations of traditional wedding ceremonies in West Dolo, interviewed indigenous leaders and family members involved in the rituals, and collected documentation related to Kaili marriage traditions.
By observing these ceremonies directly, the researchers were able to map how communication flows between elders, families, and the bride and groom throughout the marriage process. Interviews with community leaders also revealed how traditional messages are carefully crafted and delivered in culturally meaningful ways.
The study found that communication in Kaili marriage traditions follows a structured sequence of rituals, beginning before the wedding ceremony, continuing through the marriage ritual itself, and extending into post-marriage activities. Each stage contains symbolic messages about family life and social responsibility.
Before the wedding, families from both sides engage in negotiations and discussions that are often mediated by indigenous leaders. These discussions cover matters such as the marriage agreement, the ceremonial schedule, and preparations for the traditional rituals. During this stage, elders frequently deliver advice to the couple about mutual respect, commitment, and the responsibilities of married life.
The main wedding ceremony combines religious and cultural elements. While the Islamic marriage contract formalizes the union legally and religiously, traditional rituals reinforce cultural meaning. Indigenous leaders deliver ceremonial speeches that emphasize loyalty, respect for parents, and the importance of maintaining harmony within the family and community.
Symbolic objects also play a communication role during the ceremony. Traditional clothing, betel leaves, and ritual gestures convey cultural meanings that reinforce the spoken messages delivered by the elders. These symbols function as cultural language, reminding the couple of their responsibilities within the broader community.
After the wedding ceremony, additional rituals continue to strengthen relationships between the two families. One of the key practices involves visits between the bride and groom’s families, symbolizing acceptance and unity between extended family networks. These post-marriage traditions reinforce the idea that marriage creates not only a new household but also a new social bond between families.
According to the researchers, these communication patterns help ensure that cultural values remain embedded in community life. Marriage ceremonies serve as educational moments where cultural norms are publicly reinforced and passed down to younger generations.
However, the research also identifies challenges facing the continuity of Kaili marriage traditions. Social change, urban migration, and shifting lifestyles have influenced how weddings are organized. Some traditional rituals are now simplified or omitted due to time constraints, financial considerations, or limited knowledge among younger community members.
One example highlighted in the study is the declining practice of certain ritual traditions once performed by female customary leaders. As fewer individuals possess detailed knowledge of these rituals, parts of the tradition risk disappearing over time. Despite these challenges, indigenous leaders continue to adapt traditional communication practices to contemporary contexts while maintaining their core cultural messages.
Novia Miranda and her co-authors emphasize that traditional leaders remain essential cultural mediators within the Kaili community. By delivering messages during marriage ceremonies, they help maintain social cohesion and reinforce cultural identity.
The researchers from Tadulako University note that the symbolic communication embedded in marriage rituals represents a form of cultural education. These traditions teach couples about responsibility, mutual respect, and community harmony—values that remain relevant even in modern society.
The study also suggests that documenting traditional speeches, ritual practices, and symbolic meanings could help preserve this cultural heritage. Digital archives, community recordings, and cultural education programs may support the continuity of Kaili traditions for future generations.
As Ilyas Lampe of Tadulako University explains through the study’s interpretation, indigenous communication practices demonstrate how cultural values can be transmitted effectively through ritual language and symbolic interaction within community events.
The findings highlight an important lesson for cultural preservation efforts across Indonesia. When traditional leaders remain active participants in community ceremonies, they help ensure that cultural values are not lost but instead continue evolving alongside social change.
Author Profiles
Novia Miranda Tadulako University, Indonesia.
Ilyas Lampe at Tadulako University
Sitti Murni Kaddi at Tadulako University
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