Kampar’s Basisombau Oral Tradition Offers a Strategy for Character Education in the Digital Age

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FORMOSA NEWS

Researchers from the University of Riau have revealed that the Basisombau oral tradition from the Kampar community in Riau plays a strategic role as a character education system for the younger generation. Published in 2026, the study highlights how traditional dialogue practices, rich in social values, can serve as a contextual curriculum aligned with 21st-century competency needs.

Amidst rapid modernization, formal education often prioritizes academic achievement over the internalization of social values and character. Basisombau, typically practiced during traditional ceremonies such as weddings and family gatherings, is more than just a cultural ritual. It functions as a social learning system that instills ethics, responsibility, and mutual respect in the next generation.

The researchers employed a qualitative approach using a literature review design to dissect the values within Basisombau. Through the perspective of ethnopedagogy—an educational approach rooted in local wisdom—the tradition was analyzed as a source of knowledge that functions as a contextual curriculum for the community. The study utilized content analysis on cultural documents and scientific literature to identify emerging educational value patterns.

Key findings from the research include:

• Basisombau operates as an effective community-based social education system that transmits respect, the spirit of deliberation, and communication ethics between generations.
• The tradition fulfills the three dimensions of character education according to Thomas Lickona's theory: moral knowing, moral feeling, and moral action.
• The values embedded in Basisombau are highly relevant to 21st-century educational competencies, such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.

The findings confirm that Basisombau can be integrated into both formal and non-formal education systems to strengthen the younger generation's cultural identity. The researchers recommend that the government, educational institutions, and indigenous communities collaborate to document and integrate these traditional values into school curricula to ensure their sustainability in the era of digital transformation.

Author Profiles

• Abdullah: Chemistry Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Riau.
• Hasnah Faizah: Indonesian Language and Literature Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Riau.
• Hermandra: Indonesian Language and Literature Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Riau.
• Mahdum: Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Riau.
• Elmustian: Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Riau.

Research Source:

• Article Title: Learning from Basisombau: Character Education and Social Values in the Traditions of The Kampar Community
• Journal: Contemporary Journal of Applied Sciences (CJAS), Vol. 4, No. 5, 2026
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/cjas.v4i6.191