Benyamin Sueb's Witty Criticism Of Lust For Development

Tung reeds

Frog kid on the edge of the river

The puppet semate house

got evicted again kemane

JAKARTA - That is the lyric of a Betawi character and artist, Benyamin Sueb, entitled Digusur. This work proved that long before Iwan Fals' name appeared through songs with the aroma of criticism in the 1980s, Benyamin, who was born in Kemayoran, March 5, 1939, had already criticized through music.

The themes raised by Bang Ben - his nickname - do not only contain everyday silliness that seem trivial. Moreover, everyone understands that Benyamin always has the concept of criticizing something he thinks deserves to be shaken.

When traced, the artistic talent that flowed in Bang Ben's blood came from his grandparents, Haji Ung and Saiti. In the past, Haji Ung often performed as a folk theater performer during the colonial era. Meanwhile, his grandmother, Nyak Saiti, played the clarinet player.

That desire has decreased to Bang Ben, even since he was 7 years old. At that age, Bang Ben and his seven brothers formed a music group called Orkes Kaleng. Not just giving a name. The name Orkes Kaleng was taken because all the musical instruments used by the band were used goods.

Rebabs from medicine boxes, stem bass from iron oil drum cans, to keroncong made from biscuit cans. Indeed the foundation of pure talents. With the makeshift musical instruments, they are skillful at playing and always succeed in performing captivatingly singing old Dutch songs.

However, when western music began to be banned in President Soekarno's government - along with the confrontation with Malaysia in the early 1960s, Bang Ben saw an opportunity that rhythmic songs and in Betawi language could take a place in the hearts of the people.

This is because Bang Ben saw the same formula as being successful in Minang songs which later gained a place in Indonesian society. Bang Ben was challenged. He began to compose one by one Betawi song. As a result, he got high appreciation. Yes, although there are not many sneers at the eccentric and ngocolaty verses that he voices.

1968 was the point that made Bang Ben shine even more in the world of music, which is synonymous with gambang Kromong - a typical Betawi art. At that time, Bang Ben was asked directly by Bing Slamet to submit his song titled Nonton Bioskop to Dimita Records studio.

It was there that one of the country's most famous songs was born in the form of an audio recording. According to many testimonies at that time, Bang Ben's career in the singing world was also driven by the many humorous criticisms he inserted in his song lyrics.

Listening to Bang Ben's song is a beautiful combination of broad insight, humor, as well as assertiveness and a clear point of view. Throughout his career, Bang Ben managed to produce 75 music albums and played in 53 film titles.

Historian JJ Rizal also spoke about Bang Ben's greatness. "A character like Ben is only born once a century, like Pramoedya in our world of writing," said JJ Rizal to VOI, Wednesday, March 4.

Criticism of evictions

Of the many problems that Benyamin criticized, the issue of eviction is one of the most interesting to look at. His penchant for reading books and studying philosophy honed Bang Ben's sensitivity and empathy. Bang Ben was easily anxious when he smelled injustice, especially that which befell Betawi people.

There is a period starting in 1949, when Bang Ben's anger at lust for development was at its peak. At that time, one by one Kampung Betawi began to be evicted. Starting with Kampung Betawi in Kebayoran Baru covering an area of 730 hectares which was converted into a new settlement of 730 hectares.

After that, the village that was the victim of the eviction was Senayan. Quoted in the book Betawi Tempo Doeloe (2015) by Abdul Chaer, the evictions in Senayan involved 1,688 houses, kiosks, cattle sheds, and the felling of 700,000 trees in Balur Village, Senayan Village, Petunduan, and Penjompongan. This eviction was carried out for the construction of a sports complex.

The eviction victims are given understanding and compensation by the central government. Around 60 thousand residents of Senayan Village were moved to Tebet, Slipi and Ciledug as compensation for this eviction. Due to this reality, Benyamin did not remain silent. Criticism related to this was not only expressed in music. Through the art of acting Bang Ben often throws criticism, some of which are present through the production house of PT Benyamin Bina Bersaudara, which produces the Betawi soap opera, Mat Beken.

In Mat Beken, besides Bang Ben being the main character, he also acts as a screenwriter. Therefore, satire about the evictions was presented at the opening of the first episode through a deep dialogue and babe Si Mamat aka Mat Beken.

The scene begins when Babe and Enyak are relaxing on the porch in the morning. Babe then said, "Alhamdulillah, when we received the eviction money, fortunately we bought a garden here, hopefully, our house will not be evicted again," said Babe. "Yes, sir, aye too tired to move around like a cat with children ... If we remember back then in Senayan we were evicted, moving to Tebet. Well, now come here, bye. Maybe we could be driven to Mount Sono, "he said soundly.

Even though Bang Ben did not appear there with his remarks, his role as a screenwriter who was able to gather criticism about the evictions should be appreciated. Regarding the critique who himself played the role of the main character criticizing the eviction, it was present in the series Si Doel Anak Sekolahan (1994–2006). The series was also played by big names as well as other Betawi figures such as Rano Karno and Mandra.

The satire about the eviction of Senayan was told when Kasdulah (Si Doel) was just graduated as an engineer. Bang Ben, who plays Si Doel's father, promised that when his son became an engineer, he would visit his former ancestral village. They went by opelet to Senayan, to be precise at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

They came there knowing themselves, the land they were treading on was no longer theirs. Although he seemed reluctant to enter the stadium, Doel was reminded by his babysitter, "I just want to invite you to let you know that this is your former ancestral land," said Bang Ben.

The visit had to end quickly, because they were sitting in the field area while the people were practicing football. And at that moment, Benyamin Sueb's iconic chatter appeared about the Indonesian national team, "you practice, you win, you win!"

That is how Bang Ben looks simple, full of innocence, is judged as a village stamp, until full of spontaneity fills the memory of people in Indonesia, especially the Betawi people through his works.

So, all those who watch, listen to, or witness directly when he plays music or works in acting, everyone will have one voice in labeling him as, the legend.