From Agent to Agency: Management of the AerMata Ebhu Tourism Destination, the Noble Burial Complex of West Madura, by the Local Community in Arosbaya, Bangkalan Hetti Mulyaningsih- Aminah Dewi Rahmawati- Alya Hamida
Departement of Sociology, Faculty of Social and Cultural Science, University of Trunojoyo.
hetti.mulyaningsih[at]trunojoyo.ac.id
Abstract
The AerMata Ebhu Burial Complex is estimated to date back to the 15th century, serving as the final resting place of the Cakraningrat dynasty, their families, and retainers. This study aims to identify the process by which the local community transitions from acting as agents to becoming agents of agency in managing the AerMata Ebhu Burial Complex. The research employs an ethnographic approach and draws upon the theoretical perspective of Anthony Giddens. Interviews were conducted with three components of the local community responsible for managing AerMata Ebhu, the Bangkalan Tourism Office, and the Cultural Heritage Preservation Agency (BPK) Region XI East Java. The findings reveal that this destination ranks among the top three religious tourism sites in Bangkalan in terms of visitor numbers. The burial complex serves not only as a cultural symbol but also as a heritage site reflecting the dynamic interplay of various interests. Administratively, the site is a historical and archaeological relic under the supervision of the BPK Region XI East Java. However, its management is heavily influenced by local community interests, which are represented in the three-tiered spatial structure of the complex, comprising the first courtyard, the second courtyard, and the main courtyard. These courtyards, connected by ascending steps, reflect the hierarchical distribution of power among local community actors, illustrating the process of transitioning from agent to agency, as they sustain power dynamics through the physical structure and economic interests associated with the site.
Keywords: AerMata Ebhu Burial Complex, power, space, agency, local community
