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South Jakarta festival promotes Betawi culture, traditional martial arts
Festival committeeAnwar Albatawie said through this event, the organizer wanted people to realize how rich the Betawi culture is, especially its martial arts, and take pride in it.
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A traditional Betawi silat group from North Jakarta rehearse their choreography before the Greater Jakarta Betawi silat competition at the second Kampoeng Rawajati Festival on Sunday. Traditional Betawi silat is judged based on the beauty and accuracy of the movements. - (JP/Valerie Halim)
I
n an effort to raise awareness about traditional Betawi pencak silat martial arts, the second Kampoeng Rawajati festival in South Jakarta held its first ever pencak silat competition designed to promote Betawi culture among the younger generation last weekend.
Held in collaboration with the Indonesian Traditional Betawi Silat Association (Astrabi), the Betawi Culture Institution (LKG) and private event organizer PT Kayana Sukses Gemilang, the festival had the theme “Cintai Seni Budaya Betawi Sampai Menuju Prestasi” (Love Betawi art and culture to reach achievement).
Festival committee chairman Anwar Albatawie said that through the event the organizers wanted people to realize the richness of Betawi culture, especially its martial arts, and to take pride in it.
“Out of over 600 genres of silat in the world, Jakarta has 300. That’s why it is important for people to know about traditional Betawi silat,” he said.
He further explained that their efforts to introduce traditional Betawi silat, known as silat Beksi, to the general public would not just stop in South Jakarta as the final goal is for traditional Betawi silat to go national. To reach that goal, Anwar said, similar events would be held in different parts of Jakarta on a monthly basis.
Despite being a local event for South Jakartans in the Rawajati area, the festival proved to be an effective medium for strengthening ties among the Betawi people all over Jakarta.
South Jakarta Mayor Marullah Matali also supported the festival by contributing a trophy for the general champion of the Betawi silat competition.
