Ritual and Reform: Social Transformation through Ajheru’ Aghung in Kayumas Coffee Plantation Community (2019–2023), Situbondo-Indonesia

Abstract

This research is a study of social history aimed at examining the transformation of the Ajheru’ Aghung Ritual in Kayumas Village, Situbondo, East Java, Indonesia, from a sacred practice into a means of promoting cultural and economic values. Initially conducted in secrecy as a form of gratitude and request for abundant coffee harvests, since 2019, the village government has introduced this ritual openly as part of the promotion of Arabica coffee from Kayumas, now a local flagship commodity. The study employs historical methods, including heuristic stages, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography, with an approach combining cultural sociology and structural functionalism theory. Data were gathered through literature studies, in-depth interviews with community leaders, and observations of ritual practices. This approach allows for tracing the transformation of ritual functions and their impact on the village’s social structure. Findings indicate that the ritual transformation not only reinforces the community’s cultural identity but also creates new opportunities for economic activities through culturally-based tourism. The Ajheru’ Aghung Ritual has become a collective symbol of the community as a producer of quality coffee, demonstrating cultural adaptation to modernity while retaining its traditional significance.

Key words: Ajheru’ Aghung ritual; social history; cultural transformation; arabica coffee.