JAKARTA - The euphoria of the 499th Anniversary of the City of Jakarta was also celebrated by Galeri Indonesia Kaya by holding a Betawi art performance presented every weekend throughout June.
In line with the spirit of "Moving Towards the New Era of Jakarta" carried out in this year's Jakarta Anniversary celebration, Galeri Indonesia Kaya presents an appreciation space for various Betawi art performances that have become part of the city's identity.
One of the performances that was present in the series was the Lenong Kampung Te-Ko performance by Sanggar Oplet Robet which tells the story of the life of the village community in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the big city.
Renitasari Adrian, Program Director of Indonesia Kaya, conveyed his commitment to caring for the sustainability of the culture we have.
"As a cultural public space committed to preserving and introducing the richness of Indonesian culture, we want the 499th anniversary celebration of Jakarta at the Galeri Indonesia Kaya to be a momentum to revive various Betawi arts that have become the identity of this city. We believe that the transformation of Jakarta towards a new era needs to go hand in hand with efforts to preserve its cultural heritage. Through a series of Betawi art performances, we hope that more people, especially the younger generation, can get to know and appreciate the culture that is part of Jakarta's journey," he explained.
The performance of Lenong Kampung Te-Ko tells the story of the life of the village community who live in harmony in the midst of the dynamics of the big city. This harmony begins to be disturbed when a group of thugs take advantage of the economic conditions of the residents for personal interests. The conflict in this story illustrates social problems that are close to the lives of urban communities, while also raising the values of unity, courage, and social concern.
Wrapped in a typical Betawi lenong style that is full of humor, spontaneous dialogue, and accompanied by traditional music, this performance presents an entertaining and reflective experience for audiences from various backgrounds. Through the interaction between the players, the improvisation that is characteristic of lenong, and the presence of guest star Rudi Sipit, Lenong Kampung Te-Ko presents a familiar atmosphere that has been part of the tradition of Betawi folk performances for years.
This performance involves 16 performers directed by Maulana Firdaus as the director. Combining elements of traditional theater, music, and Betawi humor, this performance presents entertainment that is close to everyday life while conveying a moral message about the importance of maintaining unity in the face of the challenges of urban life.
The story of the Lenong Kampung Te-Ko performance was written by Riyanto RA, who sees lenong as more than just an entertaining spectacle.
"Lenong has always been born from the life of Betawi people. Through Lenong Kampung Te-Ko, we want to present a story that is close to people's daily lives, so that the audience is not only entertained, but also can see the importance of togetherness, courage, and concern for others in the midst of ongoing urban changes. "
Sanggar Oplet Robet itself is a community of Betawi traditional art activists who work in the fields of lenong, dance, gambang kromong, and various other Betawi arts. Starting from the spirit of the former members of the Cultural Heritage Theater who want to have a place to continue to express their love for Betawi culture, this group founded the Betawi Group's Ocehan Plesetan or Oplet Robet in 2001, which later developed into the Betawi Cultural Institute (LKB) which works in the field of arts and cuisine.
Until now, Sanggar Oplet Robet continues to be a space for traditional art practitioners to maintain the continuity of Betawi culture through various performances and cultural activities.
"The presence of Oplet Robet departs from the awareness that Betawi culture needs space to continue to live and develop. The opportunity to present Lenong Kampung Te-Ko at the Indonesia Kaya Gallery is a source of pride for us, because through this stage more and more people, especially the younger generation, can get to know and love Betawi art. We hope that this performance can be a reminder that in the midst of Jakarta's development towards a new era, Betawi culture remains an important part of the city's identity that needs to be maintained together," said Ramdani (Qubil AJ), head of the Sanggar Oplet Robet.
The Lenong Kampung Te-Ko performance is part of the Betawi art performance series presented by Galeri Indonesia Kaya throughout June in celebration of the 499th Anniversary of the City of Jakarta. Previously, Galeri Indonesia Kaya had presented the performance Majoor Jantje: The Last Mardijkers by Salindia Theater and Djantoek Reborn by Atien Kisam, while the series of celebrations will continue through the performance Penganten Keder by Sanggar Sinar Norray on June 27, 2026.
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