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REINFORCEMENT OF THE MYTH OF MANGUNI  
IN MINAHASAN COMMUNITY, NORTH SULAWESI 

 
Mayske Rinny Liando 

State University of Manado (Unima) 
e-mail: liandomeys@yahoo.co.id  

 
 

ABSTRACT 
 Oral traditions may be found in many regions. One of them which enriches the 
treasure of local culture is the oral tradition of the myth of manguni (owl), which, in 
Minahasa, North Sulawesi, is purified and constitutes part of the local traditions which 
may help the local people overcome their problems. The oral tradition of the myth of 
manguni constitutes one of the local cultural products which may be potentially created, 
as can be seen in the creative industries currently motivated by the government of 
Indonesia. This present study was particularly intended to identify the form, ideology, 
and implication of the reinforcement of the myth of manguni in the community of 
Minahasa, North Sulawesi.  
 The result of the present study showed that the myth of manguni was reinforced 
by the community in Minahasa, North Sulawesi, not only in the form of the creative 
industry of souvenirs, which are highly economically valuable, but also in various forms 
of symbols. The reinforcement of the myth of manguni in the community of Minahasa, 
North Sulawesi, contained the ideology of heroism, the myth of the origin of Minahasa, 
amusement, the communication between human beings and the Creator, conservation, 
and commodification. The implication of the reinforcement of the myth of manguni in the 
community of Minahasa, North Sulawesi, on the socio-culture of the Minahasan people 
included the aspect of ideological superstructure, the aspect of socio-culture and the 
aspect of material infrastructure.  
 
Keywords: reinforcement, myth, manguni bird, community of Minahasa. 
 
 
INTRODUCTION 

 The treasure of local culture in the form of oral tradition may be found in many 

regions. In North Sulawesi, for example, the myth of manguni is found as an oral 

tradition. In the community of Minahasa, Manguni is purified and constitutes part of the 

local tradition which may help the local people overcome the various problems they may 

have. The oral tradition in the form of the myth of manguni is one of the local cultural 

products which is potentially created from the perspective of creative industries, although 

the products produced need to be increased qualitatively and quantitatively. The 

responses given by the public to the creative industries of manguni are in the forms of 

batik industry, souvenirs (key hanger, miniature, house door hanger), painting, doll, pin, 

brooch, necklace, magazine, book, statue, and symbols of government, the biggest 

mailto:liandomeys@yahoo.co.id


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church, social organization, group, and youth organization. Many shops and trades are 

also named after this myth. 

 In relation to such a phenomenon, the problems of the present study were in the 

forms three questions related to the form, ideology, and implication of the myth of 

manguni on the community of Minahasa in North Sulawesi. In general, this present study 

was intended to explore the values of the oral tradition which are deeply rooted in 

cultural studies, and to give information to the public on the form, ideology, and 

implication of the myth. In addition, this present study was also aimed at giving 

contribution to the local government when making policies related to culture to resurrect 

any local tradition which is getting extinct as a consequence of globalization.  

 It was expected that the result of the study would contribute to any attempt made 

to develop cultural studies, or any fact intended to develop the concepts related to the 

understanding of the myth of manguni. Such concepts are in the form of the studies 

which were intended to explore the form, ideology, and implication of the reinforcement 

of the myth of manguni related to the creative industries. In practice, it was expected that 

the result of the present study would give input to the documentation of the culture of 

listening to the sound produced by manguni as an initial symbol and sign in all the 

activities of life done by the community of Minahasa, give input needed for preserving 

the oral tradition in the Archipelago in general and in Minahasa in particular, for 

supporting the government’s program in preserving the oral tradition. 

 

RESEARCH METHOD 

 The paradigm of cultural studies with the principles of qualitative method was 

used in the present study which explored the myth of manguni reinforced by the 

community of Minahasa, North Sulawesi. It was randomly conducted in Minahasa 

Regency, North Sulawesi. The data were collected through observation, interview, and 

documentation study. Qualitative data which were expressed in the forms of 

expressions, sentences, and events related to the form, ideology, and implication of the 

myth of manguni in the treasure of creative industries on the community of Minahasa 

were used. The theories used in the present study were the theory of mythology 

(Barthes, 2007), the theory of deconstruction proposed by Derrida (in Barker, 2005), 

Pilliang (2003), which was compared to the concept of ideology proposed by Larrain 

(1996), Van Zoest (1993), Thompson (2003), and Volosinov (1973), was used to analyze 



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the ideology of the reinforcement of the myth of manguni in the community of Minahasa; 

the theory of semiotics proposed by Hoed (2008), Danesi (2010), and Sobur (2009), and 

the theory of commodification proposed by Fairclough (1985) were used to analyze the 

implication of the reinforcement of the myth of manguni in the community of Minahasa.  

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION 

 Different interests caused the reinforcement of the myth of manguni as a local 

tradition not to be simply adopted from the model, pattern, and form of the Western 

creative industries. The reinforcement of the myth of manguni was not simply inspired by 

economic interests either. Cultural interests also inspired the development and 

reinforcement of the myth of manguni as a local tradition as an attempt to maintain the 

Minahasan identity. In other words, entrepreneurs and cultural observers adapted and 

modified the pattern and model of creative industries in accordance with the context and 

interests. 

 The reinforcement of the myth of manguni in the community of Minahasa, North 

Sulawesi, was realized not only in the form of souvenirs with their highly valuable value, 

but also in the forms of the local governmental symbol, the symbol of Brigade Manguni 

(the traditional biggest organization), the symbol of the Church of Masehi Injili 

Minahasa/GMIM (denomination of the biggest church in North Sulawesi, the symbol of 

the Waraney Wuaya Community, which means preservation of the regional identity, the 

community integration, and Minahasan cultural religiosity.  

 The ideology of the myth of manguni in the community of Minahasa was revealed 

to identify the general socio-culture which directs and exemplifies the Minahasan way of 

thinking. Such identification was combined with the concept of ideology and the theory of 

deconstruction to destruct and find out the ideology forming the cultural description the 

Minahasan community. Such an ideology was not strange to the Minahasan community; 

it had been so integrated into the people’s way of life that they did not recognize it. 

Further, the ideology which did not benefit the human entity contributed to the 

acknowledgement of the human nature. As stated by Thompson (2003: 18) that an 

ideology functions to tighten the social relation which is collectively agreed. The 

reinforcement of the myth of manguni in the Minahasan community, North Sulawesi, 

contained the ideology of heroism, the myth of the origin of Minahasa, amusement, the 



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communication between human beings and the nature and the Creator, conservation, 

religiosity, and the ideology of communication.  

 The implication of the reinforcement of the myth of manguni in the community of 

Minahasa, North Sulawesi, on the system of the Minahasan socio-culture included the 

aspect of ideological superstructure, the aspect of social structure and the aspect of 

material infrastructure. From the dimension of ideological structure, the myth of manguni 

was made to be getting popular as a creature which was able to transmit the message of 

natural phenomenon which could be both positive and negative to the lives of the 

Minahasan people. Apart from that, the reinforcement of the myth of manguni also 

implied the development of sciences and became the source of inspiration in the 

development of the values of art, literature, and heroism of the Minahasan people.  

 Its implications on the social structure included the political, kinship, and 

character educational aspects. In the political aspect, manguni was frequently used as a 

discourse by many parties (especially the bureaucrat, politician, and non government 

organization) to acquire support and socio-cultural and political legitimacy for the sake of 

power. From the family and kinship dimension, the Minahasan people ’s awareness of 

the important meaning of the signs provided by manguni as the attempt made by human 

beings to maintain the harmonious relationship between themselves and their fellow-

beings, between themselves and the nature, and between themselves and the Creator, 

was getting better. Apart from that, what the Minahasan people believed in the signs 

provided by manguni before doing any activity was getting stronger. The reinforcement 

of the myth of manguni in the Minahasan community from the educational dimension 

strengthened their belief that manguni was smart, brave, and wise which should be 

exemplified in education. 

 Economically, such reinforcement could increase the Minahasan level of life by 

creating items such as souvenirs which were highly valuable economically and specific 

to Minahasa. From the ecological dimension, such reinforcement caused the Minahasan 

people to be aware of preserving the habitat of manguni, which was getting scarce, so 

that its population would increase.  

 

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION  

 Several conclusions could be drawn. First, the reinforcement of the myth of 

manguni in the Minahasan community was realized in the forms of economic value and 



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regional symbol. Second, the reinforcement of the myth of manguni in the Minahasan 

community, North Sulawesi, contained the ideology of heroism, the myth of the origin of 

Minahasa, amusement, the communication between the nature and the Creator, 

conservation, religiosity, and the ideology of commodification. Third, the implication of 

the reinforcement of the myth of manguni in the Minahasan community, North Sulawesi, 

on the Minahasan socio-culture included the aspect of ideological superstructure, the 

aspect of socio-culture and the aspect of material infrastructure.  

 The regional government should carry out the programs it has planned 

continuously as oral traditions are the state and regional assets which should be 

protected. The cultural observers and stakeholders should actively participate in 

socializing the values that the myth of manguni contains to the Minahasan community.  

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

 In this opportunity, the writer would like to thank and highly appreciate Prof. A.A. 

Bagus Wirawan, S.U. as supervisor for his full attention, supervision and encouragement 

during the completion of this present study, Prof. Dr. A.A. Anom Kumbara and Prof. Dr. 

Aron Meko Mbete, as co-supervisor 1 and co-supervisor 2 for their supervision during 

the completion of this dissertation.  

 

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