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Jokowi look-alike hopes face can garner attention for 'reog' dance
Budiono, 50, shares similar facial features with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.
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Budiono, 50, a resident of Magetan, East Java, looks a lot like President Jokowi. However, his resemblance to the former Surakarta mayor only attracts attention on social media. (kompas.com/courtesy of Budiono)
F
ifty-year-old Budiono looks very much like President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. The Magetan, East Java, resident shares similar facial features with the former Surakarta mayor.
However, the two live in totally different worlds. While Jokowi is busy with politics, Budiono has devoted his life to Javanese masked dance reog. He founded the Reog Singo Among Mudo group and frequently performs at cultural events and wedding parties.
“My face often confuses people,” he said as quoted by kompas.com on Monday.
“One day I performed in Surabaya [East Java]. Some guests shared false info saying that Mr. President was on a blusukan [impromptu visit] there, which then led to many people asking me to take pictures with them,” he added.
Budiono hoped his face would bring fortune for his group, which he has managed for the past five years. Unfortunately, it remains wishful thinking as business has always been run-off-the-mill, he said.
His resemblance to Jokowi only attracts attention on social media or when he attends a wedding.
“Not so much attention put on the reog dance,” he said.
Budiono called on the Magetan administration to pay more attention to reog performers and artists in the regency. With only a small number of cultural events being held in the area, the number of young people interested in traditions has dwindled.
“There are 60 reog groups in Magetan. There has never been a competition. We also don’t have a reog community,” he added.
However, Budiono said he would keep recruiting and teaching young members – children and teenagers – so that they would grow fond of Javanese culture. (vla/iwa)
