MUHAMMAD AKSIN: (JP/Ruslan Sangaji)

Muhammad Aksin stands straight and tall. Threads of white are showing in his hair and beard, but age has not slowed his mission to promote traditional music.

The 53-year-old, a resident of Tanamodindi village in South Palu, Central Sulawesi, has made a life choice -- dedicating himself to developing the province's traditional music.

And it's lalove -- a long bamboo flute -- that has become his focus for making sure traditional music gets the attention it deserves.

"My lalove is my second wife," Aksin says.

Bapak (Father) Ojo, as Aksin is popularly known in his neighborhood, says he first fell in love with the lalove way back in 1967, when he was still a student at the state-run technical school in Palu.

At first, he just liked watching musicians play the lalove.

But before long he became more and more interested in learning how to play the instrument, using his break time while helping his parents in the garden to practice. He is completely self-taught.

Soon, as his skill with the lalove grew, he was invited to perform in community events and ceremonies in his village.

These days, however, the lalove is rarely heard -- or heard of -- losing ground to modern music, with most Palu teenagers knowing nothing about traditional music, preferring Western pop music.

Bapak Ojo is the only lalove musician in Palu still actively playing the instrument.

But the retired fire brigade officer has never lost hope, continuing to promote traditional music while trying to make money on the side looking for firewood to sell or working on construction sites.

His efforts to promote the music take him on frequent trips around Palu city, mixing with teenagers in different artistic groups to teach them to play the lalove. Although he has not had a lot of success with his campaign, he has had some: There are now 10 more people who can play the lalove.

His reputation and work preserving traditional music, however, have gained him some small amount of recognition, including from top musician Iwan Fals, who took the time to watch Bapak Ojo playing when he had concert in Palu.

Iwan confessed at the time he was impressed when he heard Bapak Ojo playing the lalove and promised to collaborate with the traditional musician.

"I was impressed by the lalove's rhythm. Apparently our traditional music is very rich," Iwan said.

The lalove is a traditional wind instrument unique to Central Sulawesi. It is made from small bamboo known locally as volo vulu.

For local residents, the lalove is more than just a musical instrument: Some believe it has healing powers too.

There might be no research proving the sound of the lalove can heal the sick but the people of the Kaili community, who live in the Palu valley, strongly believe -- based only on their experience -- that the lalove's music can cure the sick.

Bapak Ojo acknowledges the local belief, explaining that he is skilled in four different ways of playing the lalove -- each is designed for a different purpose, essential in the healing process.

The first method is called poragi. This type of music is usually played at the beginning of the Balia ritual to treat sick people. Poragi music is considered the most serene and sacred in the ritual.

The second style is posaronde. At this stage of the ritual, the music is played to call the "invisible soul" or vurake, which is believed to have disturbed the sick person.

The next playing style is posalonde. When this rhythm is heard, the paralyzed or sick person can suddenly dance.

When the dance has ended, the last step is to play pompaura to calm the wicked soul that has disturbed the sick person, asking it to return to nature.

It is not too difficult to learn to play the lalove, Bapak Ojo says, but it must begin with certain breathing exercises.

"The more we practice, the better is the performance. Breathing exercises become important," he says.

Bapak Ojo is concerned that the local government does not care about the development of traditional music. He accuses the government of using traditional music only for art and cultural shows.

"Lalove is only staged as a political platform and in the interest of the elite. But they never invite traditional artists to come along and discuss ways to develop this traditional music," he says.

"Our government in Palu doesn't pay attention to traditional music. It is only valued as entertainment."

But he knows he cannot rely solely on the government to preserve the lalove and traditional music in the region.

"My only hope is with the younger generations. All of you can look after our traditions," Bapak Ojo says.

After all, he says, if such traditions are not preserved, then it will be impossible for the lalove to survive -- except as a name.

"I'm getting old. Soon I'll die. That's why in the last years of my life, I keep trying to ensure that the lalove will be preserved. This is our traditional music: Don't let it disappear."

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