A Reading From Dr. Suhardi's research on the Guritan; An Effort To Sustain The Besemah Oral Traditions in South Sumatera

By Madia Patra Ismar

This is a text reading by me Madia Patra Ismar, from the late Dr. Suhardi's excerpt of his dissertation. This short reading from his abstract and Introduction is a tribute and form of respect to Dr. Suhardi who recently passed away. He spent many years on this study of the Besemah Oral Traditions as a direct translation from his dissertation. Any mispronunciation of words or hesitance in the readings is caused by my own shortcomings as I am an Indonesian and not a native English speaker.  Through this podcast episode, I hope to contribute to building further awareness and knowledge about the cultures of Indonesia and its researchers, who are cultural scientists that are Indonesian and are activists in the Oral Tradition Society (ATL).