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Slank to spread positive values at Islamic boarding schools
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- (JP/Arief Suhardiman)
Music has long been renowned as a powerful tool for spreading feelings of camaraderie and uniting people of different values.
Legendary Indonesian rock band Slank will use its musical talents and popularity among the nation's youth to instill feelings of national unity at four pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) in four different cities this September.
It is joined in this endeavor by Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) Sinar Mas and cultural figure Zastrouw Al Ngatawi, as part of a tour titled Silaturahmi: Merajut Kebangsaan (Friendly Meeting: Uniting the Nation).
"Music is a universal language for all parts of society. We hope Slank's promotion of the values of peace, love, unity and tolerance can be used to bridge the gaps in society," Ngatawi said.
The upcoming tour, set to run from Sept. 13-17, will see the band visit Pesantren Darussalam in Cujengjing, Ciamis; Pesantren Al Hikmah 2 in Sirampog, Brebes; Pesantren Darussalam in Subah, Batang and Pesantren Amanatul Ummah in Pacet, Mojokerto, all of which are in Java.
The tour is a follow up to a similar tour the band conducted in 2012, during which its members visited 57 pesantren throughout the nation.
Much like its previous effort, this upcoming tour will see Slank conduct numerous social activities to help out the schools, such as handing out copies of the Quran.
Each of the four schools will receive 2,000 copies of the Quran, 1,000 juz amma (books containing the last chapters of the Quran) and 10,000 books for writing, all from Sinar Mas. Aside from these donations, the band also aims to spread positive messages of unity through diversity and nationalism to the school communities.
"At the core, we are all different from one another. But there are always values of love, tolerance and unity that can bridge these differences. Music and dialogue are some of the ways we can communicate these values," said Kaka, Slank's vocalist, during a Sept. 5 press conference held in Jakarta to announce the tour.
In addition, the band also plans to do things like plant trees, hand out carpets for mosques and hold dialogues on what it means to be Indonesian. But it's not all a serious affair. Slank also aims to entertain the students with music performances.
"We plan to bring a relaxing atmosphere to these pesantren, so it's not always about studying or mengaji (reciting the Quran). Sometimes kids need to play and be entertained. The kids at these pesantren are always extremely happy when we visit. It is their smiles that make us want to return," Kaka said.
The band chose to visit these schools because of the strong influence they have in shaping the character of youth throughout the nation.
Members of the band made several comparisons to the schools being akin to workshops where social outcasts and criminals mend their hearts. The band's management said that Slank specifically chose to visit pesantren with over 2,000 students.
"This is a time for us to try to mend wounds and unite the nation. We are asking for all elements of society to join hands," said Bimbim, Slank's drummer.
Sinar Mas’ collaboration with Slank for this tour demonstrates the company's belief in promoting national unity.
"In order to become strong, diversity needs to be nurtured. Because it is differences that make us unite and push us to become more innovative. Trust, respect and cooperation is how to build and serve the nation," Sinar Mas managing director Saleh Husin said.
Sinar Mas itself has its roots in diversity. This 78-year-old company was built on the foundation of the diversity of its employees and leaders. According to APP Sinar Mas director Suhendra Wiriadinata, the values Slank wanted to promote were values that reflected the company's inner operations, with diversity being a strength for building sustainable business, rather than a hindrance.
"Through this partnership with Slank, an icon of the Motherland, we hope to help build the spirit of nationalism," Wiriadinata said.
