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With sports, music and friends, Jakartans embrace old age
Elderly people in Jakarta remain active despite limited options offered by the city.
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The elderly population in Jakarta has increased significantly throughout the years. In 2018, Jakarta residents aged 60 up to 119 numbered 869,684 people, up from 805,121 in the previous year. (Shutterstock/File)
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n densely populated Duri Pulo in Gambir, Central Jakarta, a group of seniors have formed an angklung community to study and preserve the traditional bamboo musical instrument.
Christin Ristanto, 63, said that the community was started in 2006 with more than 20 members, all female and mostly aged above 70. Some of them have become incapacitated or died throughout the years leaving only 12 active members today.
“It started with some of us in Posyandu [Integrated Health Post for Elders] Lansia thinking it would be nice to have a community that could help us remain active as it happened that one of the grannies here, Sandra, was good at playing music,” said Christin, who is the youngest member in the group.
“Aside from helping us to keep in touch with friends, this activity prevented our loss of mental faculties and even taught us more during our older days. It is important for those of us who are no longer working.”
Christin admitted that despite being self-taught, the angklung community was often invited to perform at events and had become an icon in the neighborhood.
From appearances at celebrations of Kartini Day and Independence Day, she said, local officials noticed the group’s talent and later helped introduce their activities to the Jakarta Tourism Agency.
“In 2017, the agency sent us trainers to help us learn more advanced melodies and techniques to further promote traditional culture among society. From there, we are proud to say that we have been invited to perform at larger events,” added Christin.
