Sarcouncil Journal of Arts and Literature Aims & Scope

Abstract: This study examines the regeneration crisis in the bamboo music ensemble tradition of Bajawa, Flores, within the context of globalization and socio-cultural transformation. Bamboo music serves not only as a traditional musical practice but also as an important expression of cultural identity, collective memory, and local knowledge within the Ngada community. The study aims to investigate the forms of regeneration crisis affecting the tradition, analyze its implications for cultural continuity, and identify strategies for sustaining bamboo music in contemporary society. The research contributes to ethnomusicological scholarship by highlighting the weakening transmission of musical knowledge and cultural values among younger generations in the digital era. A qualitative descriptive-explanatory approach was employed, drawing on ethnomusicological perspectives. Data were collected through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, documentation, and literature review involving bamboo music practitioners, cultural leaders, community members, and young people in Bajawa. Data analysis followed the interactive model proposed by Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. The findings indicate a significant decline in youth participation, limited practical competence in playing bamboo instruments, and the diminishing availability of traditional learning spaces within families and local communities. The regeneration crisis is further intensified by weakened intergenerational transmission, reduced performance opportunities, and the growing influence of global popular music culture. Despite these challenges, bamboo music continues to function as a powerful symbol of Ngada cultural identity. The study concludes that the sustainability of the bamboo music tradition requires adaptive preservation strategies, including cultural education, community-based arts development, digital documentation and promotion, and stronger collaboration among local communities, educational institutions, cultural practitioners, and government agencies.