Pop singer Iwan Fals receives highest government award for dedication

Eleven artists and cultural icons, including pop singer Iwan Fals, have received prestigious awards from the government for their dedication.

Eight of them received the highest award called Satyalancana, while others received the Arts Awards, presented by Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik, on Wednesday at the Jakarta Playhouse, metronews.com reported.

The first eight awardees were Darmanto Jatman, a philosopher and poet, the late Koestono (Tony) Koewoyo, a composer, the late Dewi, a choreographer and dancer of Losari mask dance, Siti Maryam Salahuddin, the author of a book on the traditions of West Nusa Tenggara, Jacob Sumardjo, a theater historian, essayist and critic, Iwan Fals, a composer and singer, Emha Ainun Najib, a cultural icon, poet, and essayist, and Abdul Hadi WM., a cultural icon and composer.

Three recipients of the Arts Award were the late Elfa Secioria, a composer, Sundari Soekotjo, a keroncong singer, and I Gusti Putu Gede Wedhasmara, a composer.