Indonesian Diary

Festivals and Events from Around Indonesia

TEATER KOMA: SIE JIN KWIE
Dates: 5th - 21st February
Venue: Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta
These performances are presented by the Teater Koma theatre company as part of their 33rd anniversary celebrations. Set in mid 7th century China, this is a story of heroism, valour, patriotism and the earnest defence of one’s country. The fusion of beautiful costumes, dance, traditional music and singing, all together make for an entertaining show.
For more information: www.teaterkoma.org

Concert: UBIET & KRONCONG TENGGARA
Dates: 12th and 13th February
Venue: Teater Salihara, Jakarta.
Kroncong Tenggara music group, founded by Ubiet (Nyak Ina Raseuki), Dian HP, and Riza Arshad, uses traditional keroncong music as its starting point, but then selects from a wide range of musical genres, including tango, jazz, pop, classical and Malay music, to intensify the spirit of the keroncong music itself.
The group retains several elements of keroncong, such as the distinctive cak-cuk rhythm which is played on the ukulele and mandolin. They also use a range of different instruments like accordion, drums, cello, flute, saxophone and electric bass guitar. The vocals integrate all kinds of singing styles from around Indonesia and the world with the characteristic keroncong form, making for the unique singing style of Ubiet, the group’s leader.
For more information: www.salihara.org

Concert: PLACEBO
Date: 16th February
Venue: Istora Senayan, Jakarta
Placebo, a three piece alternative rock group from Europe featuring Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal and Steve Forrest, will be performing live on stage. Since the release of their self-titled debut album in 1996 they have sold over 12 million records worldwide.
Placebo have also collaborated with a number of top artists like The Cure and David Bowie. The band have already had a string of hits including “Every You Every Me”, “Without You I’m Nothing”, “Bitter End” and “Special K”. Their latest album, “Battle  For The Sun” was released in June 2009 and the first single taken from it was “For What It’s Worth”.
For more information: www.javamusikindo.com

Dance Performance: Diponegoro
Dates: 19th and 20th February
Venue: Teater Salihara, Jakarta
Bringing together elements of both traditional Javanese and contemprary dance, Diponegoro is a dramatization of the life of Prince Diponogoro (1785-1855) with a narrative and libretto based on the autobiography that he wrote while in exile in Sulawesi. Choregrapher Sardono W. Kusumo has used a Javanese dramatic style known as Langendriyan in which the performers dance to gamelan music. The dancers incorporate elements of western music that are an integral part of their performance.
For information: www.salihara.org

Film Screening: The Bird Can’t Fly (Netherlands)
Dates: 20th February
Venue: Erasmuis Huis, Dutch Cultural Centre, Jakarta
‘The Bird Can’t Fly’ is set in South Africa, a land of extremes where people are able to express both hate and hope in the same sentence.
This film tells a universal story that could be about yesterday, today or tomorrow. Its linear narrative covers the events of a few days in which a world goes from being rich and fertile to one which has deteriorated. At the film’s denouement we return to an opulent life much like the one at the beginning of the story. Finally the degraded world finds new life. Life in this world is an unending spiral. Life is born of sorrow.
For information, please contact 021 - 524 1069

Sekaten
Dates: 21st to 27th February
Venue: Plaza north of the Kasunanan Sultan’s Palace, Surakarta
The word Sekaten is taken from Islamic holy scripture and it is a ritual to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. The Sekaten celebration involves various art performances and a community handicraft and souvenir market. There is also an exhibition of royal family treasures in the performance hall at the Sultan’s Palace (Kraton). The climax of the festivities is when the ‘mountain of rice’ emerges from the Kraton and is carried to the grand mosque where prayers are said before the rice is given away to members of the community.
For information, please contact Surakarta Municipal Government, Tel. 0271 643 454

Cap Go Meh and the Tatung Parade
Date: 28th February
Venue: Singkawang, West Kalimantan, Indonesia
Cap Go Meh is an annual event in the city of Singkawang which is held by adherents of Kong Hu Chu (Confucianism). Cap Go Meh normally takes place 15 days after the Chinese New Year (Imlek). The rituals usually start on the evening before in the homes or prayer houses of the participants. The next day they continue with a parade of the Tatung around the city. These Tatung are said to be filled with supernatural or ancestral spirits and therefore able to become a means of communication with these ancestors or deities so that evil spirits can be chased away.
For Information, please contact the Office of Tourism and Culture, West Kalimantan Province, Tel. 0561 742 838, 0562 631423