Since the beginning of the week, our attention was absorbed in the House of Representatives’ inquiry into the Bank Century bailout, the shameful spectacle of lawmakers’ brawling during the related plenary session and the voting result that called for legal measures against those deemed responsible for the bailout decision.
Besides that, Jakartans needed to avoid the House compound during these two-day sessions due to clashes between police officers and protesters on the Century issue. Protests also took place in several other cities, with Makassar as the most violent up until Thursday.
But it is time to swing over to the Jakarta Fairground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.
Twenty two stages are hosting international stars and Indonesian artists at the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival.
Please welcome Grammy award winning artists John Legend, Toni Braxton, Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds and the Manhattan Transfers.
From Friday to Sunday, music lovers will have the once-a-year chance to witness and enjoy superb shows not only from these stars but other well-known musicians such as Chick Korea, George Duke and Diane Warren as well as Maliq & D’Essentials and old crack Bubi Chen.
Since its first establishment in 2005, the Java Jazz has been attended by world stars. Their attendance has helped promote Indonesia as a peaceful country despite several terror attacks — including the double bombings of two Jakarta hotels last July.
Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu warmly welcomed the event during a press conference Wednesday, saying the festival has supported the government program on Visit Indonesia Year 2010, as the event has also attracted music lovers from neighboring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia.
What makes this year’s festival different from previous years is the venue. Festival founder Peter F. Gontha has decided to move the venue from the Jakarta Convention Center in downtown Senayan to Kemayoranto to anticipate the increasing crowds. Last year, more than 30,000 people flocked the festival each day and Senayan is too small to accommodate them.
The venue issue should serve as a wake up call for the government that Indonesia, especially Jakarta, needs to have a performing arts center up to international standards such as Singapore’s Esplanade.
We hope the government is also giving attention to the development of the arts as Indonesia has many talented artists who have gained international recognition. Providing a world-class performing arts center would support the development of the arts.
We also hope that Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo will bring into reality his vision to turn Jakarta into a city of arts and music festivals. In the past few months, Jakarta has hosted Java Rocking Land, JakJazz and the Jakarta International Blues Festival.
Despite the success stories, it was sad to remember that the organizers had to cancel JakJazz last June “because of many constraints,” they said. And as a consolation, top Indonesian jazz performers insisted to show off their skills for free at a mall.
Congratulations should be given to the organizers of those festivals, the enthusiastic audiences and the performers for their commitment in boosting the music industry in Indonesia.
Let’s hope that the government gives its support so that in the end the industry will also boost Indonesia’s name on the international stage.
