T

he Gorontalo provincial administration through the Gorontalo Linguistic Agency has granted an award to traditional artist Risno Ahaya, 57, for his achievement and hard work in preserving the region's traditional oral literature, including poems.

Besides receiving a cash prize, the visually impaired Risno, who sports shoulder-length hair, was also presented with a new gambusi (stringed instrument) to replace his old one.

Gorontalo Linguistic Agency head Haruddin said the award was accorded to Risno in appreciation of his consistency in and dedication to introducing various styles of the region's poems, including Pantungi, Lohidu and Tanggomo.

Haruddin acknowledged that it had been hard to find a local artist who was able to make traditional instruments and was a master of traditional poetry, adding that he had found only one after traveling through the region for a year.

'We came across Risno in a village in Batudaa district in Gorontalo regency. We asked him to make a good gambusi made from jackfruit lumber,' he said.

Harto Malik, a lecturer at Gorontalo State University's (UNG) School of Literature and Cultural Studies, said the poems performed by Risno had special characteristics, adding that poems in the Lohidu style resembled a kind of rhyme in the local dialect.

He also said that Risno was adept at maintaining the rhythm of each line he expressed, while paying attention to the message he wished to convey.

Another of Risno's gifts includes his ability to express a message through rhyme in accordance with the message and theme whenever he is invited to perform at an event.

Besides that, Risno often includes the names of various places or districts in Gorontalo in his rhymes, so that the audience can imagine the situation in each place.

Risno has achieved many things in his life. He won a gambusi competition organized by Gorontalo's Radio Republic of Indonesia (RRI) from 1982 to 1984, and many of his works have been reviewed as scientific and academic compositions, including by Nani Tuloli, an arts professor at UNG in 1990.

RRI news editor Haris Talamati also praised Risno, saying that he was a traditional Gorontalo oral literary artist who had become a living legend in the province.

'I remember on a number of occasions, when Risno went on stage, the venue would be full of people. If he performed on the RRI, for instance, many people would drop by to listen to his poems which always contained a moral message. He deserves this award,' Haris said.

Until now, Risno has continued to perform the region's oral literature at various events. Even though he has won several awards, Risno still spends much of his time reciting poetry at traditional markets. Whenever he goes out walking, however, he has someone around to assist him.

Risno, who is a father of four, said it was better to deliver his poetry for contributions than to just beg on the streets, although he admitted he had sometimes returned home empty-handed.

'Some people don't accept my music. They say they don't need rhymes,' said Risno, who relies solely on the donations he receives from the public.