Story of Indonesia, Every Picture Tells A Story

On 31 March 2012, the usually quite town of Sukabumi became alive with sparkling colors and vibrant music as 1000 of artists from all over the province of West Java gathered to take parts in the West Java Art and Cultural Parade 2012.

Initiated by the Tourism and Cultural Office of West Java Province, the event featured the procession of West Java traditional arts and cultural forms from 8 cities and regencies including Purwakarta Regency, Bogor City, Sukabumi Regency, Bandung City, West Bandung Regency, Cianjur Regency, Sukabumi City, and Cimahi City. Showcasing the richness of West Java art and cultural treasures, the event successfully illustrated the three branch of West Java’s culture which are Melayu Betawi, Priangan, and Dermayon Kacirebonan.

Among some of the arts and cultural performance presented were Mapag Panganten (Traditional wedding parade) Ringrang and Jangkrik Art, Wayang Hihid (Bamboo Puppets), Budak Pamayang, Ngabungbang, Dangkolung, Angklung Buncis, Gagarudaan, Kuda Renggong, Pencak Silat Martial Art and many more.

Aimed to preserve the traditional art and culture of West Java, the event was not simply an exhibition of traditional performances since each art forms and cultural display contains wisdoms and values of the ancestors that has been passed down for generations. Aside from sukabumi, this year the West Java Art and Cultural Parade will also be held in Karawang, Banjar, and Indramayu.

Photo by Prayudha Nurdiansyah.

Featuring 110 Indonesian groups and 45 international bands in over 200 performances playing on 17 performance stages for over 10,000 audiences, for three consecutive days, the Metropolitan Jakarta inevitably transformed into the Mecca of Jazz as the biggest music festival in Indonesia and one of the largest in the world, Java Jazz 2012, was held at the JI Expo, Jakarta, from 2 to 4 March 2012.

Consistently supported by the Ministry for Tourism and the Creative Economy and the Ministry for Trade and Industry, the annual Java Jazz Festival has grown into the biggest music festival in the country and, as Wikipedia puts it: arguably the biggest Jazz Festival in the Southern Hemisphere. Jam packed with the most celebrated names in the realm of Jazz from all over the globe, such as: Herbie Hancock, Dave Koz, The Manhattan Transfer, Bobby Mcferrin, Erykah Badu, and Stevie Wonder, this year has proven to be the biggest yet in the 8 years of the ongoing history of the festival. Confirming the metropolitan Jakarta as the capital of world’s jazz, Java Jazz Festival 2012 eloquently expresses itself as a celebration where jazz finds a home.

Bringing the world to Jakarta, the festival had grown into a gathering place for music enthusiasts from all over the world. JJF 2012 broke the boundary of nations, language, and other differences, as many faces of South East Asian, Oriental Asian, American, European, African, and others, all drowned in the one passion for Jazz. Interestingly, the festival also became the arena where artists respected one another, as they also mixed in with the crowd to watch others perform. Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheney, Chantee Moore, Sheila E, and a number of Indonesian musicians were constantly seen enthusiastically walking around listening from stage to stage in the arena.

Photo by Wahyudi Pratama and Andi Abdul Muhaimin. Word by Andi Abdul Muhaimin.