FROM MIGRANTS TO CITIZENS: NAVIGATING THE DUAL IDENTITY AND CULTURE OF YEMENI-INDONESIANS IN SOLO

Oleh :
Mohammed Yahya Mohammed Almahdi - S012408003 - Fak. Seni Rupa dan Desain

This thesis explores the lived experiences of the Yemeni Indonesian community within the Pasar Kliwon district of Surakarta. The core focus of this research centers on how this community navigates a complex dual belonging. These individuals remain deeply rooted in their Indonesian identity while simultaneously preserving their Hadhrami ancestry. The purpose of this academic work is to rectify the demographic and historical erasure of this diaspora. By moving beyond mainstream stereotypes of religious conservatism, the study documents their vibrant translocal identities and their central role in the social and cultural fabric of Indonesia.The methodology revolves around the creation of a twenty six minute sensory documentary titled Yemeni Souls in Solo. This film functions as both the primary investigative tool and the final research outcome. The production is governed by the Design Thinking framework, progressing through the empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test stages. Furthermore, the process is heavily informed by sensory ethnography alongside critical visual methodologies.The results highlight a visibility paradox. The findings show that while the community is highly visible during religious spectacles such as the annual Haul festival, they remain historically and demographically obscured. To navigate this paradox, many community members utilize somatic citizenship. They blend in through fluent Javanese and local customs while quietly maintaining their Hadhrami distinctiveness at home. Additionally, younger generations employ a buffet identity strategy, consciously preserving selected cultural traits while renegotiating traditional marriage and hierarchy norms. The significance of this work lies in its empirical and visual proof that Yemeni Indonesians have transformed from colonial era Foreign Orientals into integral builders of modern Indonesia. By translating theoretical concepts into an empathetic sensory experience, the research provides a replicable blueprint for visual anthropology and actively promotes interethnic understanding.