Analysis of the Position of Singkap Rere Oral Tradition in the Batak Toba Marriage and Kinship System
Abstract
The oral tradition of Singkap Rere is one of the customary practices within the Toba Batak community that has been transmitted orally across generations. This tradition is closely related to the social position of a widow who has lost her husband and the kinship obligations that follow. This study aims to analyze the position of the Singkap Rere oral tradition within the marriage and kinship system of the Toba Batak people, including its functions, transformations, and social implications in contemporary society. The research employs a qualitative method with a descriptive approach, combining field observations, in-depth interviews with informants, and library studies of relevant academic sources. The research site is Lae Rambong Village, Silima Pungga-Pungga District, Dairi Regency, North Sumatra Province. The findings reveal that Singkap Rere functions not merely as a remarriage mechanism, but also as an instrument for preserving patrilineal kinship ties, protecting inheritance rights, and ensuring the continuation of the marga (clan). The tradition distinguishes between widows who have children and those who do not, each with different customary implications. In the contemporary era, Singkap Rere is no longer a compulsory obligation, but has become an optional practice subject to mutual family agreement, reflecting the influence of modernization, formal education, and individual rights awareness, particularly for women. This research contributes to the documentation and preservation of endangered Toba Batak oral traditions and adds to the academic discourse on the intersection of oral tradition, customary law, and gender dynamics in Indonesian indigenous communities.
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