KABAYAN
Translated from
Si Kabayan
written by Mohammad Rizqi
published by
Language Development and Cultivation Agency
Ministry of Education and Culture
in 2016
This translation has been published as the result of the translation program organized
by The Center for Language Strategy and Diplomacy Development,
Language Development and Cultivation Agency, Ministry of Education and Culture
in 2018

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The author expresses praises and gratitudes to Allah
SWT. because with His guidance, the author can complete the
writing of a children story entitled Kabayan. Kabayan is a
Sundanese oral literature that is very well known in the life of
Sundanese people. In fact, it may well be that Kabayan is also
well known outside of Sundanese community, although it is
known only for the character while the story has not been widely
known, among others, is due to language factors. Therefore, the
rewriting of this children story in Bahasa Indonesia needs to be
realized. With the writing of children stories based on regional
literature, regional literature is not only known in its region, but
also all over Indonesia. Thus, writing children stories based on
regional literature functions as one of the tools in an effort in the
National Literacy Movement.
Kabayan, which is a Sundanese oral literature, can be
seen as a story that contains high moral values. In it, in addition to
being full of the cuteness shown by the attitude of Kabayan, it is
also loaded with various satires which are delivered in the form of
humor. Kabayan, whom is known as a lazy man in its myth,
actually has an amazingly ingenious mindset that other people—
even his in-laws cannot match.
Kabayan is based on the Tarate issue, in Bandung in 1980
under the title of “Si Kabayan” by M.O. Kusman, written in
Sundanese. The story of Kabayan is presented in several episodes.
This was done, among others, to maintain the cohesiveness of the
storyline so that it will not be boring.
On this occasion, it is fitting that I sincerely thank Prof.
Dr. Gufran Ali Ibrahim as Head of Center of Cultivation and Dr.
Fairul Zabadi as the Head of Learning Sector who have provided
the opportunity for all staffs of the Language Offices and Centers
in Indonesia. I also express my thanks to Drs. Muh. Abdul Khak,
M. Hum., as the Head of the West Java Language Center who
delivered information on the program of writing children stories.

Bandung, April 2016
Mohammad Rizqi