DIDACTIC ADAPTATION OF THE ORAL TRADITION OF TAPA MALENGGANG AS A DESIGN OF ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S STORYBOOKS BASED ON LOCAL WISDOM FOR ELEMENTARY MADRASAS IN JAMBI

Abstrak

This study aims to reconstruct the narrative structure of the Tapa Malenggang oral tradition and adapt it didactically into a picture storybook for children. Tapa Malenggang is a Malay oral tradition originating from the Batanghari River region, Jambi, which contains cultural, ecological, and moral values related to environmental conservation. However, its oral form, characterized by lengthy narration, repetitive expressions, and symbolic language, makes it less accessible to contemporary child readers. This research employed a qualitative approach using Design and Development Research (DDR). Data were obtained from two video recordings of Tapa Malenggang performances in 2017 and 2019, supported by transliterations of the performances and relevant literature. Data analysis was conducted through narrative reconstruction based on Ruth Finnegan's oral performance perspective and didactic adaptation using Julie Sanders' adaptation theory. The findings reveal that the performance structure of Tapa Malenggang consists of opening, narration, and closing stages, while its narrative structure consists of ten major episodes forming a journey pattern. The reconstruction results indicate that the story represents a process of ecological awareness development through encounters with various symbolic figures. The didactic adaptation process involved five stages: identifying adaptable elements, adapting the story structure, adapting language, adapting values, and designing the picture storybook. The final product is a B3-level children's picture storybook entitled Tapa Malenggang and the Batanghari River Guard , which presents local wisdom and river conservation values through a narrative and visual format appropriate to the cognitive development of children aged 8–10 years. The study demonstrates that oral traditions can be transformed into educational literary resources while preserving their cultural essence and pedagogical value