Ade Suryani

PhD candidate

Name: A.J. Suryani
Telephone: +31 71 527 1125
E-mail: a.j.suryani@hum.leidenuniv.nl

research

Muslim Baduy: Da'wa, Conversion, and Identity
Supervisors: dr. N.J.G. Kaptein and prof. dr. G.A. Persoon

For his PhD research Ade Jaya Suryani studies the dynamics of da’wa conducted by Muhammadiyah (the second largest Muslim organisation in Indonesia), Dewan Dakwah Islamiyah Indonesia (DDII), Al Washliyah of Medan, kiyais/ Muslim preachers, and teachers in the Baduy community. Baduy is a tribe in Banten province, Indonesia, where its people adhere the local religion Sunda Wiwitan. They are geographically and religiously divided into two kinds: the inner (the strictest) and the outer (the less strict) Baduys. Baduy people, according to the theology of Sunda Wiwitan, are destined to be ascetics. Therefore, they reject modernity including its products.
However, after they permitted tourists to visit their villages about 20 years ago, many of them could not maintain their religious teachings. Some inner Baduy people have become outer Baduy people and some 1,000 people of outer Baduy have become Muslims. They changed their names and moved to Muslim villages. Their conversion to Islam is the impact of tourism, da’wa activities conducted by the preachers and teachers supported by Muhammadiyah, al-Washliyyah, DDI and other da’wa organisations; and to a certain extent by the state.
Since 20 years ago tourism has contributed significantly to the conversion of the Baduy people. Every week tens to hundreds of tourists come to Baduy villages. Many university students visited Baduy villages and invited Baduy youths to live with them in cities. They were educated by the students or sent to educational foundations to attend formal education. Afterwards, they converted into Islam. After years they returned to Muslim Baduy villages, built madrasas, and taught Muslim Baduy students. The community of Baduy, at the same time, has become a battle field among political parties and Christian missionaries and Muslim preachers.

Education

1997-2000	Islamic Senior High School in Natural Science
1997-2000	nonformal education in Islamic teachings at Pesantren Hidayatul Mubin, Pandeglang
2000-2001	nonformal education in Islamic teachings at Pesantren As-Salam, Tangerang
2001-2005	bachelor in Jinayah Siyasah (Islamic Criminal Law and Politics) at IAIN Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin Banten
2007-2008	master in Islamic Studies at Leiden University
2016-2019	PhD in Humanities at Leiden University

Employment

2002	journalist at a tourist tabloid
2006	journalist at Radar Banten
2006	journalist at Indo.Pos
2009	teaching staff at IAIN Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin Banten
2009	researcher at Bantenologi
2002-now	volunteer at Rumah Dunia

Research Projects

2010	Perempuan Banten Pergi ke Arab: Migrasi, Ekonomi, dan Agama
2011	Revitalisasi & Pemberdayaan Fakultas Ushuluddin dan Dakwah (a member of researchers)
2013	Antropologi Agama: Agama dalam Kerangka Budaya (text book)
2014	Naskah Akademik Pengusulan KH. Syam’un Sebagai Pahlawan Nasional (1894- 1949) (a member of researchers)
2014	Sunda dan Jawa Banten: Imposisi, Peta, dan Upaya Mencari Jati Diri
2014	Kamus Sunda Dialek Banten (editor)
2015	Citra Banten Dalam Karya Sastra Kontemporer
2015	Menyusuri Jejak Sungai Cibanten (a member of researchers)
2015	Bangunan Kuno di Pandeglang (a member of researchers)
2015	Dinamika Pemilu 2014: Kompleksitas Bernegara dan Elemen Sosial-Politik Kedaerahan di Banten (with Rohman)
2015	25 Murid KH Syamun (with Mufti Ali and Suhaedi)

Publications

Article and book
2012, Perempuan Pergi ke Arab: Migrasi, Ekonomi, dan Agama (Serang: Gong Publishing)
2013, Authorship in Banten: A General Overview (Alqalam: Vol. 3 No. 1 (Januari-April))

Screenplays, broadcast by RCTI
2005, Café Soleh: Tafsir Mimpi
2005, Café Soleh: Guruku Selalu Rapat
2005, Café Soleh: Haji Mardud
2005, Café Soleh: Setelah Lebaran
2005, Ujang Santri: Suami Semena-mena
2005, Ujang Santri: Membantu Nenek
2005, Ujang Santri: Surat Palsu
2005, Ujang Santri: Pernikahan Dini
2005, Ujang Santri: Wanita Tengah Malam
2005, Ujang Santri: Penganggu Tunangan

Short-stories, poems or essays are included in:
2003, Kacamata Sidik (Senaya Abadi)
2003, Sembunyi Sampai Mati (SSS)
2005, Masih Ada Cinta di Senja Itu (Senayan Abadi)
2005, Padi Memerah (MU:3)
2005, Panggil Aku Bunga (GIP)
2005, The Real Story of Jomblo (LPPH)
2006, Ode Kampung (Rumah Dunia)
2006, Tiga Kisah: Antologi Cerpen (SSS, Rumah Dunia)
2008, Cinta Lelaki dan Peluru (Tiga Serangkai)
2013, Next Station: Catatan Perjalanan Ke Singapura dan Malaysia

Novel
2005, Mana Bidadari Untukku (Beranda)
2007, Lewat Tengah Malam (GagasMedia) with Gola Gong

Tens of articles and short stories, and some poems were published by Inside Indonesia, The Jakarta Post, Matabaca, Sabili, Aneka Yess, Radar Banten, Fajar Banten, Banten Raya Post, Tabloid SiGMA, and Tabloid Kaibon.