Page 77 - IJPS-10-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Migrant traders, social capital, and politics

information about the prices of goods or even lending and (iii) cultural practices, including distinctive behavioral
goods to each other when needed. This reciprocity practice, practices within the Madurese ethnic cultural community.
once again, is motivated by the desire to maintain social Local wisdom in the form of local knowledge is
relationships rather than merely economic exchanges apparent in the embodiment of Madurese culture, which
among fellow Madurese stall owners. This pattern of highly upholds Islamic values and teachings (Devika et al.,
reciprocity enables the ethnic-based Madurese grocery 2020; Fatmawati, 2020; Wahab et al., 2020). This is evident,
stall network to not only survive but also expand. for instance, in the following expression, which is very

3.3. Warung Madura and the politics of local wisdom popular in Madura: Abantal sadhat, apajung Alla, asapo’
salawat (relying on the syahadat, or Islamic declaration
This section explains how cultural capital in the form of of faith, seeking God’s protection, and being cloaked in
local wisdom is one of the crucial factors enabling migrant shalawat, or the practice of invoking blessings and peace
entrepreneurs, the owners of Warung Madura, to build upon the Prophet Muhammad). The concrete form of this
socioeconomic self-reliance despite living with many expression for Madura grocery stall owners is the awareness
limitations in the land of migration. of the importance of inviting or seeking advice from local
Local wisdom can be understood as the knowledge, values, Islamic scholars, or kiai, when opening a stall, seeking a
traditions, and practices present in a community, acquired location, determining the name of the stall, or requesting
through experiences and interactions with the natural and advice on hiring employees. The importance of Islamic
social environment (Devika et al., 2020; Kartikawangi, values can also be seen in the preference of Madurese
2017). Local wisdom includes knowledge about nature, migrant traders when preferring employees of married
natural resources, ecological systems, culture, history, couples over unmarried employees. This preference arises
religion, traditional technologies, local food systems, and because the employees must share a small room at the back
sustainable ways of living passed down through generations of the stall, and in Islamic teachings, only a married couple
(Kartikawangi, 2017). Furthermore, Kartikawangi (2017) is allowed to share a room. Therefore, the stall owners
reported that the values of local wisdom held significant prefer married couples to adhere to Islamic principles.
meaning in inclusive economic development, sustainable The forms of local wisdom that show the resilience
economic, environmental preservation, and cultural (bilet in Madurese) of the grocery stall owners can also be
diversity conservation. The recognition, respect, and found in some local Madurese expressions: Se atane atana
preservation of these values contribute to maintaining (those who cultivate the land can cook rice), Se adhaghang
cultural identity, enhancing socioeconomic well-being, and adhaghing (those who trade can eat meat and live well),
sustaining the environment and biodiversity (Kartikawangi, Lebbi begus ghagel ben bengal nyobak ebendingagi tak tao
2017; Wahab et al., 2020; Weinreich, 2009). ghagel polanah tak penah nyobak (it is better to try and fail
The values of local wisdom existing in Madura culture than fail to try), and the belief that sustenance (or rezeki in
play an important role in shaping the distinct characteristics Indonesian) cannot be exchanged (De Jonge, 1995; Devika
of the socioeconomic self-reliance model among the et al., 2020; Fatmawati, 2020). With these beliefs, Madurese
Warung Madura networks in the Jakarta area. Field data migrants’ traders do not hesitate to open small grocery
indicate that 156 (78%) respondents in this study stated stalls in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, far from their
that Madura grocery stalls had unique characteristics, hometowns. Some even open grocery stalls adjacent to large
while 44 (22%) respondents stated that Madura grocery modern minimarkets (such as Indomaret or Alfamart),
stalls do not have certain special characteristics. The which are supported by substantial capital and extensive
unique values of Madura local wisdom manifest in the marketing networks. These values of local wisdom in the
form of knowledge, values, traditions, and behavioral form of distinct Madurese cultural knowledge are one of
practices that positively support their socioeconomic self- the driving factors behind the proliferation of Warung
reliance in the land of migration. Madura in the Greater Jakarta area.
Based on the results of this study, a range of local Local wisdom values in the form of material culture
wisdom values that help shape the socio-economic self- include the presence of traditional Madura machetes or
reliance character of the Madura grocery stalls network can celurit displayed on the walls of stalls, the typical names of
be categorized into three main groups: (i) local knowledge the stalls, which include the word “Madura” (for example,
derived from traditions, culture (including ca’-oca’an Warung Izmil Madura), the Madurese language spoken
or idioms/proverbs) and traditional Islamic teachings; by the stall keepers, and the distinctive Madura attire,
(ii) material culture, which comprises artifacts, goods, consisting of a sarong and a black songkok cap. Regarding
equipment, weapons, and distinctive Madurese clothing; the celurit displayed on the walls, 44 respondents (22%)

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 71 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.2637