Betawi comedian Bokir dies at 77<\/p>\n
\"Being well-known as the one who tells jokes in the topeng
\ntheater is not always good, because people think I'm joking even
\nif I say something serious. However, I feel that it has become my
\ndestiny. I will continue to make jokes until I die,\" Bokir told
\nThe Jakarta Post in an interview in July.<\/p>\n
The familiar face of the great Betawi (native Jakartan)
\ncomedian will no longer grace our television screens or entertain
\npeople with his jokes. He passed away on Friday, leaving a more
\nsomber Jakarta behind, even as it struggled with the gloom left
\nby the Bali bombing.<\/p>\n
Bokir died at 4 a.m. on Friday from complications arising from
\na lung disorder, diabetes and high blood pressure. He left behind
\ntwo wives and five children. He was 77 years old.<\/p>\n
Widely known as a lenong (Betawi humorous traditional theater)
\nartist, Bokir preferred to be known as a topeng artist.<\/p>\n
Topeng -- meaning mask (except that the players do not wear
\nthem) -- is a drama genre, whereas lenong is action.<\/p>\n
Ever since he was a baby, Bokir's life was closely connected
\nto Betawi traditional theater. He learnt the ropes from his
\nfather, who was the owner of the popular topeng theater group,
\nTopeng Jiun.<\/p>\n
In 1966, together with his cousin Nasir, he established his
\nown topeng group, Setia Warga, whose members were mainly drawn
\nfrom the same family. The group launched the careers of now-
\npopular Betawi comedians, Mandra, Omas and Mastur.<\/p>\n
Besides acting in the topeng theater, he also often performed
\nin dozens of films, albeit in small parts.<\/p>\n
Bokir's life, although simple to the very end, was one of
\ndedication to the Betawi way of life. Through his humorous
\nportrayals, Jakartans become familiar with various Betawi
\ndialects, and thanks to him and his group, the traditional Betawi
\ntopeng theater still exists today.<\/p>\n
Bokir was buried at Kampung Kramat cemetery in Kampung Setu
\nsubdistrict, East Jakarta. --JP<\/p>",
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