J

une 24, p28

Sapto Sopawiro, 73, is a Javanese living in the Republic of Suriname who continues to preserve Javanese culture amid the prevalence of pop art. The former miner is a Javanese community elder and the lone dalang wayang kulit (leather puppet master) in Suriname, the only country in the Caribbean with a large Javanese population.

He visited Indonesia at his own expense in an effort to solve the regeneration problem of wayang kulit players in Suriname. During his 28-day stay in Yogyakarta, Sapto met with Javanese cultural figures to obtain firsthand knowledge of how a younger generation of puppeteers is born there.

Your comments:

Indeed Pak Sapto is the oldest and most popular dalang in the language which most of the audience can understand.

In the past he played at a popular event in the district called Bersikdesoh.

Many of the audience liked his jokes concerning the theme of the wayang kulit for that day or event. He is also known as the master of ceremonies at public events like tajub and genduran.

He is the also the cultural interpreter of traditional Javanese weddings. Nowadays Pak Sopawiro looks after the young generation of cultural events in Paramaribo and surrounding districts.

He is also a popular translator and cultural sumur pertakonan (problem solver) for Javanese customs and traditions.

Kadi Kartokromo