JAGMAN, an influential research and consulting academic organization, has announced a strategic collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to conduct an important cultural research project in Pontianak, West Kalimantan.
Leading JAGMAN’s team are Ahmad Izudin as President of Director, Khotibul Umam as Director of Training and Consultation, Muhammad Lutfi Hakim as Director of Human Resource Development, and Hijrian Angga Prihantoro as Director of Public Relations. From BRIN, the research team is led by Dandung Budi Yuono as Chief Researcher, supported by esteemed researchers Muh. Isnanto, Hendri Gunawan, and Prof. Koeswinarno.
The project is part of BRIN’s Organizational Research House Program for Archaeology, Language, and Literature, under the research title, “Binding the Saprahan Tradition: The Path Towards Sustainable Coexistence and Harmony for the Multiethnic Society in Pontianak, West Kalimantan.”
Scheduled to take place from April 27, 2025, to May 9, 2025, this research aims to explore how the Saprahan tradition — a communal dining custom deeply rooted in Pontianak’s cultural landscape — can serve as a foundation for fostering peaceful coexistence among the region’s diverse ethnic communities.
The urgency of this research lies not only in documenting and preserving a valuable cultural practice but also in addressing broader societal challenges. In an increasingly globalized and often divided world, traditions like Saprahan offer vital lessons on mutual respect, social cohesion, and sustainable multicultural harmony. Understanding how Saprahan functions within the social fabric of Pontianak may offer a replicable model for conflict prevention and community building in other diverse regions around the world.
Moreover, the findings of this study are expected to significantly contribute to academic fields such as anthropology, cultural studies, sociology, and peace studies. It will provide fresh perspectives on how traditional customs can be instrumental in contemporary efforts towards maintaining diversity while ensuring unity.
Both JAGMAN and BRIN emphasize that this collaboration represents a major step in combining rigorous scientific research with practical community engagement. The project will involve direct interactions with local communities, cultural leaders, and policymakers to ensure that the results are not only theoretically rich but also practically applicable.
As Pontianak stands as a living mosaic of Malay, Chinese, Dayak, and other ethnicities, this research seeks to affirm that traditions like Saprahan are more than heritage — they are a bridge to a more harmonious and resilient future.
