Guess What? Hidayat Jaelani<\/p>\n
After State Minister of Tourism and the Arts Hidayat Jaelani's
\nopening blurb, the head of the organizing committee was left to
\nexplain the details:<\/p>\n
\"Through this event we will highlight and showcase the breadth
\nof traditional music in all 27 provinces of Indonesia.\"<\/p>\n
The hacks and committee members at the media conference smiled
\nat her mistake. \"Don't you mean 26 Mbak?\" some of them called
\nout. The minister stepped in to her rescue. \"She is right
\neveryone. Indonesia now has 27 provinces. We've lost one but
\nwe've also gained one\" he said. What? \"How about Maluku. It has
\nbeen divided into two,\" he quipped to laughs all around.<\/p>\n
The occasion of the minister's spot-on if black humor was a
\nmedia conference to promote the Techno Ethnic Music Expo 2000, a
\nmusical extravaganza involving five groups from five continents
\non one Jakarta stage (and plenty of Indonesian ethnic music
\nas well). Not until next November, but something to look forward
\nto nevertheless.<\/p>\n
Later on it was the minister's turn to make a mistake. The
\nhead of the committee was announcing the groups who were coming,
\none of which is from Spain. The minister piped in saying that was
\nhis idea. Why? \"Because keroncong 'kan comes from Spain so a
\ncountry is being represented who has a shared heritage with
\nIndonesia.\" Oops.<\/p>\n
A concerned aide rushed over to him and explained that
\nkeroncong actually originated in Portugal. Anyone can make a
\nmistake, right?. (Chris Brummitt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/guess-what-hidayat-jaelani-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}