DINAMIKA BUDAYA MELAYU PALEMBANG ERA DIGITALISASI

Abstract

Malay culture is an identity that reflects the values, traditions, and worldview of a community. With the advancement of information and communication technology, the Malay community now faces new challenges in preserving and maintaining its traditional values, especially in the South Sumatra region. This study aims to examine the dynamics of identity, culture, and customs of the South Sumatra Malay community in the digital age, as well as to explore how the process of adjustment between traditional and modern elements takes place. The research method used is descriptive-analytical with a qualitative approach, using Google search engines and several other literatures, as well as analysis of various secondary sources discussing Malay culture, social change, and the influence of digitalization.  The results of the study show that digital development has brought significant changes to the patterns of interaction, communication, and the way the Malay community expresses its cultural identity. Digital technology plays an important role in cultural preservation through documentation, cultural tourism promotion, and online learning based on local wisdom. However, on the other hand, there are also challenges in the form of shifting values, commercialization of culture, and a decline in the interest of the younger generation in inheriting traditions. The Malay community in South Sumatra has shown a strong ability to adapt by utilizing digital media as a means of preserving customs, language, and traditional arts. Initiatives such as the revitalization of the Malay language, the organization of hybrid-based cultural festivals, and the digitization of traditional archives are concrete examples of cultural reconstruction efforts in the modern era. Therefore, digitization is not merely seen as a threat, but also as a strategic opportunity to strengthen identity and preserve the existence of Malay culture amid the tide of globalization.