Traditional Sepak Rago Tinggi Game Offers a New Approach to Teaching Chemistry Through Indigenous Knowledge
The traditional Sepak Rago Tinggi game from Kuantan Singingi Regency, Riau Province, Indonesia, contains rich scientific knowledge that can transform the way chemistry is taught in schools, according to new research by Rosa Murwindra, Faizah, Adanan, Hermandra, and Elmustian from Universitas Riau, Indonesia. Published in the International Journal of Contemporary Sciences (IJCS), Volume 4, Issue 5 (2026), the study reveals that the handcrafted rago ball, made from woven rattan, embodies fundamental concepts of chemistry that can be integrated into contextual science education. The findings demonstrate that indigenous knowledge and modern chemistry complement one another, offering educators an innovative way to improve scientific literacy while preserving local cultural heritage.
As education systems worldwide seek more engaging and culturally relevant teaching methods, researchers increasingly recognize the value of ethnoscience—the integration of indigenous knowledge into science education. Rather than treating science as a collection of abstract theories, ethnoscience connects scientific concepts with the cultural experiences and traditional practices familiar to students. This approach helps learners understand scientific principles in everyday life while strengthening appreciation for local wisdom and cultural identity.
Previous studies have consistently shown that ethnoscience-based learning improves conceptual understanding, scientific literacy, and student motivation. By linking chemistry to authentic community practices, educators can create more meaningful learning experiences and encourage students to view science as part of their own cultural environment rather than as a distant academic discipline.
Indigenous Knowledge Meets Modern Chemistry
The research focused on Kopah Village in Kuantan Tengah District, Kuantan Singingi Regency, where Sepak Rago Tinggi has been preserved for generations as an important element of Malay cultural heritage.
Unlike modern sepak takraw, Sepak Rago Tinggi uses a handwoven rago ball made from natural rattan fibers. The game emphasizes teamwork, balance, agility, discipline, and community solidarity while preserving traditional customs and ceremonies that accompany every performance.
Researchers employed a qualitative ethnographic approach, combining field observations, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis. Eleven key informants—including traditional leaders, experienced players, teachers, and students—shared their knowledge of the rago ball's production process, cultural significance, and educational potential. The collected information was systematically analyzed to reconstruct indigenous knowledge into scientific chemistry concepts.
The Rago Ball Contains Multiple Chemistry Concepts
One of the study's most significant findings is that the traditional rago ball represents a complete example of chemical ethnoscience.
Researchers identified six major categories of chemistry embedded within the ball:
- Natural biomaterials composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.
- Molecular interactions, including hydrogen bonding within rattan fibers.
- Chemical transformations during drying and smoking.
- Material properties such as elasticity, hygroscopicity, and impact resistance.
- Natural preservation mechanisms that protect against microbial growth.
- Material degradation processes caused by environmental exposure and repeated use.
According to the researchers, these characteristics explain why rattan has been selected for generations as the preferred material for producing durable, lightweight, and flexible game balls. Scientifically, the lignocellulosic structure of rattan provides high tensile strength while maintaining elasticity, making it particularly suitable for repeated impacts during play.
Traditional Smoking Process Has a Scientific Basis
The study also explains the chemistry behind one of the most distinctive traditional practices: smoking the rago ball after weaving.
Local communities have long believed that smoking makes the ball stronger, more resistant to mold, and longer lasting. Scientific analysis supports these observations.
Researchers found that the smoking process:
- Reduces moisture through evaporation.
- Deposits antimicrobial phenolic compounds on the rattan surface.
- Increases resistance to humidity and biological degradation.
- Produces the characteristic dark brown color through lignin oxidation.
- Forms a natural protective coating that improves durability.
These findings demonstrate that traditional manufacturing techniques developed through generations of experience are supported by modern materials chemistry.
Woven Structure Demonstrates Materials Science
The study further reveals that the layered weaving pattern of the rago ball serves more than a decorative purpose.
The interlocking fiber arrangement distributes mechanical forces evenly across the ball, improving elasticity, tensile strength, and resistance to deformation during play. At the microscopic level, hydrogen bonds between cellulose fibers and the rigid lignin structure contribute to these mechanical properties.
This relationship between molecular structure and material performance mirrors core concepts taught in chemistry and materials science courses.
A Contextual Chemistry Classroom
Chemistry teachers participating in the research described the rago ball as an excellent educational resource because it enables students to observe scientific principles directly through familiar cultural artifacts.
The rago ball can be used to explain:
- Natural polymers.
- Lignocellulosic biomaterials.
- Hydrogen bonding.
- Physical and chemical changes.
- Oxidation reactions.
- Biomaterial degradation.
- Structure–property relationships in materials chemistry.
Students interviewed during the research also reported that chemistry became easier to understand when lessons were connected to traditional culture. Rather than memorizing abstract theories, they could observe chemical phenomena in objects they already recognized from community life. The approach also increased appreciation for local wisdom and strengthened the relationship between science, culture, and everyday experience.
Preserving Culture Through Science Education
Beyond education, the study contributes to the preservation of Indonesian cultural heritage.
Modernization has reduced the frequency of traditional Sepak Rago Tinggi performances, and knowledge about making rago balls is gradually disappearing. By documenting manufacturing techniques and reconstructing indigenous knowledge within the framework of modern chemistry, the researchers provide both scientific documentation and cultural conservation.
Integrating the rago ball into chemistry education allows traditional culture to remain a living source of scientific learning rather than becoming merely a historical artifact.
Academic Perspective
According to Rosa Murwindra and colleagues from Universitas Riau, the rago ball should be recognized not only as a cultural artifact but also as a valuable scientific learning resource. The researchers conclude that traditional knowledge surrounding rattan selection, processing, smoking, weaving, and quality evaluation reflects a sophisticated empirical knowledge system that can be reconstructed into modern chemistry concepts. This integration of indigenous knowledge and chemistry education has the potential to improve conceptual understanding, scientific literacy, critical thinking, and appreciation for local wisdom.
Author Profile
Rosa Murwindra is a researcher and academic at Universitas Riau, Indonesia, specializing in chemistry education, ethnoscience, ethnochemistry, contextual science learning, and culturally responsive education. This research was conducted in collaboration with Faizah, Adanan, Hermandra, and Elmustian, who also serve as researchers at Universitas Riau with expertise in chemistry education, Malay culture, indigenous knowledge, and science learning innovation.
Source
- Article Title: Chemical Ethnoscience in the Rago Ball of the Traditional Sepak Rago Tinggi Game: Reconstructing Indigenous Knowledge into Contextual Chemistry Learning
- Journal: International Journal of Contemporary Sciences (IJCS)
- Publication Year: 2026
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/p8jan914
- Official URL: https://journalijcs.my.id/index.php/ijcs
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