CULTURAL ELEMENTS OF BRUNEI SOCIETY IN THE ANTHOLOGY OF DIAM-DIAM BY K. MANIS

This study was a library research that aimed to identify and discuss the images of Bruneian cultural elements in an anthology entitled Diam-Diam (2010) by K. Manis. This anthology consists of 73 poems. Data were analyzed using content analysis method based on the concept of culture developed by Edward B. Tylor (1974) and also A. Aziz Deraman (2005). The results of the analysis illustrate six mages in the culture of the people of Brunei namely, the culture of people who depend on livelihoods of agriculture, communities dealing with misfortune, the customs of the elite, virtue in farming, citizen culture and visions in cultural changes. The six images can be grouped into three aspects of community life i.e. agriculture, environment and state life.The findings also found that there were no cultural images related to the aspects of international trade, petroleum, politics and education, even though these activities were the core aspect of development and national building in Brunei. Based on the findings, some suggestions are deserving of concern, especially initiatives of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Negara Brunei Darussalam. The suggestion is to conduct further studies on the culture of the people of Brunei regardless type of genres including traditional and modern prose. It contributes to both Bruneian and the Malay literature in general.