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Satire, Betawi people’s way of laughing in face of life’s struggle
Rather than complaining and cursing life for unfortunate events, Betawi people have developed a habit of laughing in the face of their struggles through satire told in both written and oral literature.
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Betawi 'ondel-ondel' (giant puppets) are seen during Cap Go Meh Glodok 2018. According to historian and Betawi culture expert, Betawi people use satire to laugh in the face of life's struggles. (JP/Jessicha Valentina)
Betawi people have shared their land and livelihoods with people from different races and ethnicities for centuries.
Jakarta’s strategic coastal location, which has made it Indonesia’s major trading hub, has attracted people from all over the archipelago and even the world to come and settle.
Unfortunately, Betawi people have often been pushed aside amid all the changes that have occurred on their land, facing oppression by Dutch colonizers and competition with newcomers.
However, rather than complaining and cursing life for the unfortunate events, Betawi people have developed a habit of laughing in the face of their struggles through satire told in both written and oral literature.
“Betawi people are among those who fought against the Dutch the longest. As time passes, new races have come in, forming classes and social segregation. That’s what they [Betawi people] express through humor, because that’s their way of keeping their sanity,” historian and Betawi culture expert JJ Rizal said in a discussion about Betawi literature held on Wednesday at City Hall, Central Jakarta, ahead of the 2019 Jakarta International Literary Festival (JILF).
He said notable figures in Betawi literature included, among others, Muhammad Bakir and his family, Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Misri, SM Ardan, Firman Muntaco and Mahbub Djunaidi.
In oral literature, meanwhile, Rizal mentioned pantun (four-line rhyming poetry). Pantun is still performed widely by Jakartans at events like wedding parties, in palang pintu (door barrier ceremonies) or simply included in speeches.
