The Story Behind 'Gondrong': A Tangerang Sub-District Named Not for Hair, but History
The name of one sub-district in Cipondoh, Tangerang, Banten, is Gondrong, but it is not because all its residents have long, thick hair. According to local government and resident accounts, the naming of Gondrong has various stories behind it.
Lurah (Sub-District Head) of Gondrong, Muhlis Cahyadi, stated that many migrants live in Gondrong and work in Jakarta due to easy and close access. ‘Many newcomers have arrived here. On average, they are civil servants, private sector employees, traders, and there are also those who still farm,’ said Muhlis.
The terms Gondrong Seberang and Gondrong Udik are sub-regions of Gondrong, and there are several stories about the origin of the name. One story says the name Gondrong emerged because the area was once lush, while another links it to a local figure who had long hair. ‘The most common story circulating in the community involves a cingcalo guava tree that was very leafy, like that. Also, a figure who often walked around with long hair,’ he said.
Lurah Muhlis explained that the first origin story tells of a man with long hair who frequently passed through the Gondrong area in the past. This figure is also the reason why parts of Gondrong are named ‘Gondrong Seberang’ and ‘Gondrong Udik’. ‘Indeed, there are several stories that long ago in Kelurahan Gondrong, there was a man with long hair. He often went back and forth around the area. Many would ask, “Mas Gondrong, where are you going?” He would say, “I’m going to the other side (seberang).” He would come again, walk again, and when asked, “Mas Gondrong, where are you going?” he would say, “I’m going upstream (udik),”’ Muhlis recounted. ‘That is why here we have the terms Gondrong Seberang and Gondrong Udik. This sub-district office is called Gondrong Seberang, while over there, in RW 05, it is called Gondrong Udik.’
Another origin story for the name Kelurahan Gondrong is that the area was once planted with many cingcalo guava trees. The leaves of this tree were very lush, hence the name ‘gondrong’. A further story links the name to a figure named Haji Mohammad Item, or Mat Item, who was said to have long hair.
According to Muhlis, the most widely circulated origin story among the Gondrong community is that of the cingcalo guava tree. Additionally, the story of the long-haired figure who frequently passed through the area is the most believed by the local residents.
Hasan Basri, a 69-year-old head of the local neighbourhood unit, recounted the tale of the long-haired man. He said that in the past, this figure was often greeted by the community while walking around. ‘If you hear it, it sounds a bit strange. Gondrong usually refers to hair, a man’s hair. So, Gondrong was a figure of a man who often went back and forth, north-east, south-west. So many would greet him, “Pak Gondrong, where are you going?” He would reply, “I’m going to Utan Kenanga,” or “I’m going to Udik,” or “I’m going to Petir,” or “I’m going to Seberang,”’ Hasan explained. He added that the man was a good person and his presence left a lasting impression on the community, leading to the naming of areas like Gondrong Seberang and Gondrong Udik.
Hasan believes the name Gondrong has existed since the Dutch colonial era, claiming to have seen a map from the 19th century where the name was already present. This makes him more convinced that the origin of the name comes from the story of ‘Pak Gondrong’, rather than the legend of Mat Item, which he says only emerged after Indonesia’s independence.
A local resident, Ibnu, joked that his friends nicknamed him ‘Al-Gondrongi’ because he lives in the uniquely named area.