Indonesian group Amigos, a Batak music band that has been active for 33 years, performed at the Colorful Indonesia Festival (FCI) in Paris, an event in the French capital held on Sept. 23 to 24 at the Pavillon Dauphine. 

As reported by Antara news agency, hits performed included popular classics such as "Lissoi" and "Alusia". The song "Situmorang" especially enlivened the atmosphere, as the title namesake was switched to "Pandjaitan", which is the Batak last name of the Indonesian Ambassador to France, Hotmangaradja MP Pandjaitan.

Surya Rosa Putra, education attache at the Indonesian Embassy in Paris, told Antara on Monday that the appearance of the band, which consists of Vico Pangaribuan, Reinhard Nainggolan and Jean Butar-butar, aimed to promote Indonesian culture in France.

Read also: Indonesian cultural festival brings the atmosphere of Batavia to Australia

Amigos and Style Voice, another band that performs Batak music, also conducted mangulosi, which is the dressing of traditional fabric ulos, on Hotmangaradja, as well as Indonesian Ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Fauzi Soelaiman, Bonita Sadanoer and other guests at the festival. 

Other musicians who performed included Balawan Jazz, dance group Joged Nusantara and the embassy's Balinese gamelan group Puspawarna, which consists of 20 French members. (liz/asw)

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