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ocal band Si Madurasa kept belting out Betawi songs to accompany other local music and reggae rhythms. The occasional drizzle failed to dampen the celebratory mood of hundreds of people in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Sunday.

Betawi tradition was all around at the cultural event on Jl. H. Benyamin Sueb, a road named after the 1970s artist who became a cultural icon of the Betawi, the native people of Jakarta. Organized by the Kemayoran Children’s Community, Kendoeri Kampung Kamayoran showcased numerous elements of Betawi
culture.

Ahmad Bahruddin, 42, enjoyed the live music in a tent in front of the stage. By his side, his wife was busy feeding their 3-year-old son, Fadlan Mirza Ukail, kerak telor — a Betawi-style omelet.

“I really support this kind of event, because I want the next generation, like my son, to cherish their indigenous culture,” Ahmad said.

“My son likes kerak telor, but it’s hard to find on regular days. That’s why I like to go to this kind of event,” said the Betawi man, who had moved back to Jakarta last year from Batam, Riau Islands.

Ahmad came to the revelry with the intention of introducing his little boy to some Betawi art, such as the pencak silat martial art, lenong (folk play) and ondel-ondel (giant effigies).

At the next booth, crowds of people were seeking shelter from the light rain — and seizing photo ops with the dancing ondel-ondel in front of the booth.

Ahmad “Davi” Sueb, the booth’s owner, drew a large crowd to a free workshop on the creation, history and philosophical meaning of ondel-ondel.

“The number of ondel-ondel artists has been declining. Most of them perform in the streets and disregard basic standards on the dolls’ shapes and the accompanying music. This is demeaning to ondel-ondel,” he lamented.

Davi offered his theory on why artists took to the streets for money: They cannot survive as true ondel-ondel performers.

“They perform only once a year, namely for the Jakarta anniversary celebrations. After that, they have nothing to do, so they are compelled to perform in the streets to survive,” he said.

He called on the Jakarta administration to pay attention to the welfare of ondel-ondel artists by creating more opportunities for them to perform.

“We’re waiting for times when they can perform at hotels or are invited by companies to product-launching events. That way, companies would help preserve the local culture.”

This year, the Jakarta administration issued a gubernatorial decree on icons of Betawi culture, as a follow-up to Bylaw No. 4/2015 on the Preservation of Native Culture. The regulations aim to boost people’s pride in their culture and require the administration, individuals and businesses to support local tourism and
culture.

Davi appealed to the Jakarta administration to accelerate the implementation of the regulations, making it obligatory for tourism operators to feature Betawi arts, especially ondel-ondel, at their events.

“As a Betawi native, I agree with the demand that the Betawi culture must play a dominant role in its native land,” he said.

Central Jakarta Tourism and Culture Agency chief Sonti Pangaribuan admitted it was not easy to campaign for the promotion of Betawi culture among businesses in the city.

“Because Jakarta is a metropolis, local culture is indeed rather neglected. A major challenge is how to improve the private sector’s awareness about the need to promote indigenous art like ondel-ondel, but we keep trying,” she said. The campaign is showing signs of success, with some hotels putting up decorative ondel-ondel effigies.

Kendoeri Kampung Kamayoran organizing committee chairwoman Ratu Yunita said saving ondel-ondel was the theme of this year’s Betawi culture event.

“We have ondel-ondel artists to perform here, hoping that participating in this event will help them prosper,” she said. (yon)