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Jokowi dons Baduy attire for annual ‘State of the Union’ speech
The President has maintained his tradition of wearing the ethnic dress of Indonesia's diverse cultures in delivering his annual State of the Union Address, this time dressed in traditional Baduy attire, complete with a cap and bag.
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President Joko Widodo (left) delivers the State of the Union Address in traditional Baduy attire as Vice President Ma'ruf Amin (right) looks on, dressed in traditional Mandarese attire, on Aug. 16, 2021 at the legislative complex in Senayan, Jakarta. (Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau /Muchlis Jr.)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has continued his custom of wearing the attire of the archipelago’s various ethnic cultures in delivering his annual State of the Union Address as he donned traditional Baduy dress when taking the stage on Monday.
Standing at the podium at the Senayan legislative compound in Jakarta, the President appeared in the all-black attire of the indigenous Baduy people of Lebak regency, Banten, complete with a traditional black-and-blue cap and a handwoven net bag slung across his chest.
"I like it [Baduy attire] because the design is simple and it is comfortable to wear,” Jokowi said in a statement on Monday. “I also want to thank Pak [Mr.] Jaro Saija, a customary elder of the Baduy community, who prepared this traditional dress [for me]."
Meanwhile, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin was seen wearing the traditional attire of the Mandarese people of West Sulawesi: a black jacket and trousers complemented by a red checkered ikat wrapped around his hips and a black cap with an embroidered gold band.
In his annual State of the Union Address, delivered for the second year under the shadow of COVID-19, the President highlighted that the pandemic had essentially made public health a “shared agenda” for all Indonesians. He also called on the public to remain vigilant in the nation’s fight against the disease.
“Let’s maintain our health, be disciplined in observing the health protocols and help each other,” said Jokowi. “No one is safe from the threat of COVID-19 [as long as] there are still people who are suffering from it.”
The President wore the traditional Sabu attire of East Nusa Tenggara for last year’s State of the Union Address. For his 2019 address, Jokowi wore the traditional Sasak attire of West Nusa Tenggara, and then changed into the traditional attire of Bali’s Klungkung regency to attend the flag raising ceremony. (mrc)
