The Existence of the Labala Kingdom on Lembata Island: A Micro-Historical Study of Islamic Civilization in East Nusa Tenggara

Abstract

The Labala Kingdom is a political unit with a traditional government system that shows its existence in the history of Islamic civilization on one of the islands in East Nusa Tenggara. This royal entity is almost never written down in historical records but is still recognized as the only Islamic kingdom on Lembata Island, East Nusa Tenggara in the past. In its historical journey, this kingdom was said to be part of “Solor Watan Lema” (Solor Five Beaches) or five coastal kingdoms in the eastern part of the East Nusa Tenggara archipelago, namely Lohayong, Lamakera, Lamahala, Terong, and Labala. This research is an initial study using a historical archaeology and ethno history approach, where an archaeological survey was carried out to identity traces of material culture as well as the distribution of archaeological sites. At the same time, this research collects oral history to describe the beginning of the formation of the Labala Kingdom until its transformation into an Islamic entity that continues to integrate traditional institutions in its government system. Thus, this research provides an understanding of the historiography of the Labala Kingdom based on archaeological data and oral sources that live in the collective memory of the local community. The research results also describe the internal dynamics in the formation of the government structure of the Labala Kingdom as a local political unit in East Nusa Tenggara. The methodological reflection of this research contributes to the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in micro-history studies to reveal the history of Islamic civilization in East Nusa Tenggara.