Banda Aceh, August 13, 2025 – A research team from Universitas Syiah Kuala, through the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC), is currently conducting a study titled “Earthquakes in Acehnese Manuscripts and Oral Traditions: Building Disaster Communication Across Generations.” The research aims to uncover how disaster knowledge, particularly about earthquakes, was recorded in ancient Acehnese manuscripts and passed down through oral traditions to the present day.
This study stems from the recognition that, for centuries, the people of Aceh have lived side by side with various natural hazards. Interestingly, knowledge about disasters and strategies for dealing with them has long been preserved in ancient manuscripts written by local scholars and intellectuals. These manuscripts contain valuable records of natural signs preceding disasters, survival measures, and mitigation strategies relevant to their time.
Unfortunately, this wealth of information has rarely been studied in depth or adapted to the present context. As a result, many younger generations in Aceh are unaware that their ancestors possessed a rich and forward-thinking local knowledge system for disaster preparedness and response.
The lead researcher, Rizanna Rosemary, S.Sos., M.Si., MHC., Ph.D., a senior researcher at Universitas Syiah Kuala, emphasized that ancient Acehnese manuscripts are not only cultural heritage but also have practical value for developing disaster literacy today.
“The disaster-related aspects of these manuscripts should not merely serve as historical displays. There must be efforts to repackage them in forms relevant to today’s circumstances, so they can be utilized as educational resources and references for disaster mitigation—both for local communities and external audiences,” she said during her remarks at the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) held in the TDMRC meeting room at Universitas Syiah Kuala.
The FGD, held on August 13, 2025, brought together scholars from various disciplines, including Alfi Rahman, S.I.Kom., M.Si., Ph.D., Nurmalahayati, Ph.D., Dr. Hamdani M. Syam, M.A., Hermansyah, M.Th., MA.Hum., Nurul Kamaly, MAP., Ikhwan Amri, M.Sc., as well as early-career researchers Putri Azhari and Fikrul Azkal. The event also involved key informants such as traditional leaders, manuscript researchers, and disaster management practitioners to explore local values that can be integrated into cross-generational disaster communication systems.
“We aim to gather as much local knowledge as possible, whether preserved in manuscripts or oral traditions. Many of these insights remain highly relevant today and have the potential to enrich modern approaches to disaster mitigation,” added Rizanna.
Aceh, with its long history of major disasters such as the 2004 tsunami, has a pressing need to foster disaster awareness and preparedness from an early age. By reviving the messages contained in ancient manuscripts, future generations will not only learn from history but also inherit the local wisdom that has proven resilient for hundreds of years.
