Family authority and marriage mediation after Londo Iha in Wera, Bima Regency, Indonesia
- Authors
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NurfahUIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Muhammad WildanUIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Moh SoehadhaUIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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- Keywords
- Londo Iha, elopement, family authority, marriage mediation, legal pluralism
- Abstract
Londo Iha, a local Bimanese practice of elopement, continues to occur when marriage plans encounter parental refusal, financial pressure, pregnancy, or relationship conflict. Its persistence raises a broader question about what happens after elopement, when personal choice still meets family authority, local religious mediation, and formal marriage requirements. This study examines five Londo Iha cases in Wera District, Bima Regency, Indonesia, between 2023 and 2025, focusing on the circumstances surrounding the practice, digital communication, mediation, and outcomes. Using a qualitative design based on ethnographic fieldwork, data were drawn from interviews with 12 participants, field observations, documentary materials, and selected digital materials provided by participants. Four cases proceeded to marriage after family or local mediation and the completion of relevant legal requirements, while one ended without marriage. Digital communication made private coordination easier and, in the unresolved case, made parts of the dispute visible beyond the immediate parties. The findings show that Londo Iha can interrupt the ordinary family process without displacing family authority. They also suggest that mediation should be assessed by the conditions under which agreement is reached and by the consequences that remain when it fails.
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- 2026-10-07
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- Vol. 29 No. 1 (2026)
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Copyright (c) 2026 Nurfah, Muhammad Wildan, Moh Soehadha

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