Heritage and Risk: Rethinking Children’s Participation in Dabuih Performances in Indonesia

Abstract

Dabuih Anak-anak in Nagari Taeh Bukik, West Sumatra, challenges the way we understand the relationship between cultural heritage, faith, and childhood. Unlike the usual dabuih performed by adult men, this variant places children aged 6–14 at the center of the performance. Based on ethnographic observation, interviews, and archival research, this study finds that for the local community, the performance is not merely a spectacle but a pathway to instill courage, humility, and religious values from an early age. Yet behind this pride lies a paradox: the very children celebrated as cultural heirs also bear physical risks and ethical dilemmas that spark ongoing debates. Some believe that the power of zikr and the guidance of the khalifah protect the children, while others argue that the practice is dangerous or inconsistent with Islamic teachings. These contesting perspectives reveal that tradition is not a fixed inheritance but a dynamic space of negotiation. The main contribution of this article is to demonstrate how intangible cultural heritage survives through children’s participation, while simultaneously generating ethical debates in the global discourse on child rights and safety. The study underscores the importance of understanding heritage not only as a legacy of the past but as a living practice constantly negotiated between local pride and universal human ethics.

Keywords: Dabuih Anak-anak; Intangible Cultural Heritage; Childhood and Agency; Risk and Ethics; West Sumatra

DOI: 10.7176/ADS/115-02

Publication date: October 30th 2025