Dokumentasi Peralatan Budaya Makan Sirih ‘Selapa’ Etnik Bajau Sama’, di Kota Belud ~ The Documentation of ‘Selapa’, Betel Leaf Eating Culture Equipment of Bajau Sama’ Ethnic in Kota Belud

Masyarakat Bajau Sama’ di Kota Belud masih mengamalkan tradisi makan sirih. Kajian ini berfokus kepada budaya makan sirih yang digambarkan melalui peralatan budaya yang digunakan. Aspek reka bentuk, motif dan corak dikenal pasti dalam konsep peralatan budaya yang menyimpan mesej dan nilai murni dalam masyarakat. Istilah selapa digunakan etnik Bajau Sama’ merujuk kepada peralatan budaya ini. Umumnya, komponen pelengkap sesebuah selapa tradisional terdiri daripada anak lapa/cupu, kelekati dan gusu yang masing-masing diperbuat daripada bahan logam. Sesebuah selapa yang dilengkapi ramuan piak sirih dipercayai sangat berkait rapat dengan falsafah kehidupan masyarakat.Memandangkan peralatan budaya makan sirih amat rencam, maka kajian ini berusaha mendokumentasi peralatan dan makna budaya penggunaan selapa dalam etnik Bajau Sama’ Kota Belud. Kajian juga berusaha untuk menginterpretasi makna dan kaitan penggunaan selapa terhadap adat dan budaya. Kajian yang bersifat kualitatif ini adalah untuk mendapatkan data dan sumber secara terus di lapangan. Maklumat kajian sebahagian besar diperoleh daripada responden yang mengamalkan tradisi makan sirih dan pengumpul peralatan budaya. Data kajian dianalisis menggunakan Pendekatan Erwin Panofsky (1955) yang menekankan aspek ikonografi, deskripsi dan pengklasifikasian. Nilai-nilai budaya makan sirih bukan sahaja dipaparkan melalui konsep visual tetapi dapat dinyatakan melalui perlakuan makan sirih dalam kalangan masyarakat Bajau di Kota Belud.The Bajau Sama community in Kota Belud still practices the betel leaf-eating tradition. This research focuses on the culture of eating betel leaf, which is described through the use of cultural equipment. The aspects of design, motives and patterns are identified in the cultural equipment, which stores unique messages and positive attributes of the community. The term of selapa is used by the Bajau Sama’ to refer to the equipment used for consuming betel leaf. Generally, the main components of a traditional selapa consist of lapa/cupu, kelekati and gusu which are made of metal. Selapa, which consists of sireh plak ingredient, is believed to be very close to the community’s lifestyle philosophy. Since there are many ways of eating betel leaf, this research focuses on documenting the equipment and the meaning behind the culture of using selapa by the Bajau Sama’ ethnic of Kota Belud. This research also aims to interpret the meaning and relationship of using selapa with regard to the customs and culture of the community. A qualitative data collection method was employed during the fieldwork to collect raw data and other resources. Most of the information in this research was gathered from respondents who eat betel leaf and collect antique selapa equipment. The data was analysed using Erwin Panofsky Approach (1955) which emphasizes the iconographic aspect, description and classificatory. The values of the betel leaf-eating culture are not only visually presented but also interpreted ithrough the practice of betel leaf-eating culture among the Bajau community in Kota Belud.