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Didi Kempot raises Rp 5.3 billion with charity concert
Popular Indonesian singer Didi Kempot has raised Rp 5.3 billion (US$335,000) for charity through a concert with no (direct) audience.
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Didi Kempot performs in Konser Ambyar in Bali on March 14. (Antara/Fikri Yusuf)
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opular Indonesian singer Didi Kempot has raised Rp 5.3 billion (US$335,000) to help people who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially small-scale vendors and informal-sector workers.
A concert by the campursari (blend of traditional Javanese and modern music) star was aired on KOMPAS TV and the Kompas website on Saturday and attracted funds from 30,230 donors.
During the three-hour event, which was staged at the historic Lokananta music studio in Central Java's Surakarta, people donated through online fundraising platform Kitabisa.com or KOMPAS TV’s bank account.
According to kompas.com, the concert raised around Rp 4 billion in just two hours.
In the show, Didi and his band performed some of his most popular songs, including “Stasiun Balapan”, “Layang Kangen” and “Suket Teki”. They were wearing masks and kept a distance from each other.
Read also: Didi Kempot to hold virtual charity concert
"Thank you, sobat ambyar (heartbroken friends)," the singer said to his fans. Born in Surakarta in 1966, Didi is one of the most popular singers of campursari in the country. Loyal fans call him Lord Didi or The Godfather of Broken Hearts as they find solace in his love songs.
"Please refrain from the mudik (exodus), as we know what the country is facing now," he added as reported by tribunnews.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo made a surprise "appearance" through a phone interview with host Rosiana Silalahi and Didi during a break from the show. "I commend Didi for assuring his sobat ambyar to refrain from the mudik," he said. "In this pandemic, our solidarity is being tested. We have to put forward the spirit of togetherness and heed the appeals of religious figures and the government on mudik."
The fund-raising campaign will remain open on Kitabisa.com until April 18. (wir/wng)
