The government, ethnic music groups and other stakeholders join in to promote Indonesian ethnic music. 

The mid-1980s to early 2000s were golden years for the Sinar Baru troupe. During those years, the Betawi music group performed Jakarta’s ethnic music gambang kromong for birthday parties, weddings, and sangjits (bethrotals) around Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi. 

“We mainly lived on the road,” Ukar Sukardi, founder of the troupe, said. 

“It was hard to find time to relax at home as we performed every day, except on Thursday nights.” 

Every day after school, a lot of children also gathered at their headquarters in Gunung Sindur, Bogor, to learn to play the gambang (a kind of gamelan made of wood), bangsing (a kind of bamboo flute), tehyan (a sort of stringed instrument made of coconut shell and teakwood) and many other instruments used in Betawi music. 

“But those were the old days,” the 74-year-old said with a sad smile. “These days, [people’s] taste in music has changed.” 

Nowadays, the troupe, consisting of 25 musicians and singers, considers themselves lucky if they are invited to play twice a month. They now perform mainly in Bogor and its surrounding areas. 

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