EMHA AINUN NAJIB: (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)

Poet Emha Ainun Najib is currently touring the Netherlands with his multi-instrumental band, KiaiKanjeng, to stage musical concerts and hold interreligious dialogues in churches and theaters across the country.

KiaiKanjeng manager, Syakurun Muzakki, was quoted as saying by Antara that KiaiKanjeng was invited by The Protestant Church in the Netherlands.

The religious art event the group are performing in, named “Voices & Visions”, was organized by the Center for Reflection of the Protestant Church and the Hendrik Kraemer Institute.

It is the group’s ninth overseas tour. The last country they toured was Finland in 2006.

In the Netherlands, Syakurun added, Emha would perform in Den Haag, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Deventer, Leeuwarden, Windesheim and Utrecht, from Oct. 6 to 20.

Emha’s wife, TV-soap actress and singer Novia Kolopaking, is also participating in the tour.

“This tour is a warm greeting to the international community. We will also sing a popular Netherlands song in our own arrangement,” Muzakki said.

KiaiKanjeng have released 14 albums, all of which contain songs that aim at fostering dialogues between cultures and religions. Emha is the leader and a co-founder of the group. — JP

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