Official! Dangdut Designated As Intangible Cultural Heritage

Rhoma Irama was present at the dangdut determination session as an Intangible Cultural Heritage (Photo: Special)

Dangdut, a music genre that is in great demand by the Indonesian people, has finally been officially designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage (WBTB).

The determination hearing was held by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology on Monday, August 28 at the Millennium Tanah Abang hotel, Central Jakarta.

Officially dangdut was declared the WBTB after going through evaluation and refinement of the file from the application submitted by the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Malay-Dangdut Music Artist Association (DPP-PAMMI) on August 4, 2021, through the DKI Jakarta Culture Office and supported by the Betawi Cultural Institute (LKB).

Rhoma Irama, known as Raja Dangdut, was also present at the decision hearing, next to Iwan Henry Wardhana as Head of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government Culture Service who read out the presentation of the WBTB proposal.

The determination of dangdut as WBTB is considered not only to secure it so that it is not "locked" by other countries, but it is hoped that dangdut will be able to become the fence of the nation's culture.

Like dangdut as WBTB, it is also because this music genre has rooted and is one of the identities of the nation.

Determination of dangdut as a National WBTB is also important, in order to continue this genre as one of UNESCO cultural heritages.

Previously, dangdut was registered as a National WBTB by PAMMI in 2012. However, the process was stopped because one of the requirements where the cultural age was at least 50 years old.