Benyamin Sueb helps preserve Betawi culture

Benyamin Sueb helps preserve Betawi culture

By Rita A. Widiadana

JAKARTA (JP): Benyamin Sueb, popularly known as Benyamin S., a
rather ordinary seeming Betawi (indigenous Jakartan) man was
catapulted into stardom with the humorous lyrics of a song titled
Ondel-Ondel.

The song tells about a joyous Ondel-Ondel parade led by people
dancing inside the huge Ondel-Ondel body puppets of the Betawi
people. This art activity is held by Betawi Udik (villagers) on
special occasions.

The singer, Benyamin, instilled the song with a great deal of
humor and merriment by using a blend of the Gambang Kromong
Betawi music genre and pop music. Benyamin's song of the early
1970s was particularly popular because the lyrics invited a
direct and spontaneous dialog with audiences.

"Previously, only villagers living in rural areas outside of
Jakarta would listen to such a song, or watch the Gambang Kromong
or lenong (traditional drama) shows," Benyamin said during an
interview, while filming the movie Mat Beken on location in
Parung, 20 kilometers south of Jakarta.

Urban people were reluctant to listen to such music because
they were afraid of being regarded as kampungan or countrified,
added the artist who once worked at the Jakarta Military
Commander Office.

It was not until the late 1960s that Betawi traditions began
to be widely recognized as a part of Indonesian culture. Although
he was not a pioneer, Benyamin, 55, played a very significant
role in bringing the Betawi traditions into the Indonesian
cultural mainstream along with other local ethnic customs.

At present, Benyamin and the Betawi culture are inseparable in
the minds of the public. When people talk about Betawi people and
culture, they will undoubtedly refer to Benyamin and his works.

Simple, humorous, spontaneous, cheerful are the main
characteristics of the Betawi people. And all of these are
appropriately embodied in Benyamin both when he is on stage and
in his daily routine.

Many of his songs, most containing anecdotes, clearly portray
the way of life of the Betawi people, as well as borrowing from
Betawi folklore. Si Jampang, Kompor Bledug, Tukang Kredit and
Nyai Dasima are among the popular and often influential tunes he
has produced.

His song Ondel-Ondel even inspired the Jakarta administration
to declare the traditional puppets as the city's mascots. Other
forms of Betawi art, including Lenong, Tanjidor, Gambang Kromong,
or even modern films or theater performances exploring the roots
of Betawi tradition as background themes, are now enjoying
popularity.

A number private television stations, are currently
broadcasting programs with Betawi themes. These television
programs, such as Lenong Rumpi (on RCTI), Lenong Bocah
(TPI),Nurlela (SCTV) and Si Doel Anak Sekolahan (RCTI) have
gained wide popularity among viewers nationwide.

"As a matter of fact, I just wanted to be called an Indonesian
artist. But, my palm lines indicated the reverse. People have
come to recognize me as a Betawi artist because I keep singing
Betawi songs. But, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
I have found a gold mine in this field," laughed the singer who
has released 20 albums.

Rock `n' roll

Benyamin's music career started in l957, when he established a
pop band called Melodi Ria with Rachmat Kartolo, a famous singer
and movie star of the l960s and l970s, and Bill Saragih, now a
prominent jazz musician. He often played with the late Jack
Lesmana, one of Indonesia's jazz pioneers.

"We played rock `n' roll music by Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley
and other western musicians at a number of night clubs and
restaurants in Jakarta and other cities," said Benyamin, who also
once worked as a bus conductor.

His music career almost faded when the late President
Sukarno banned any ngak-ngik-ngok (western) music in the early
1960s. A number of artists, including the members of Koes
Bersaudara (now Koes Plus), were sent to jail for playing rock
`n' roll music and adopting the long hair and tight pants favored
by western music groups.

"I was very frustrated at that time, but suddenly I got the
idea to perform Betawi music, while the other musicians also went
back to their own ethnic music. Javanese artists played Javanese
music, Batak (North Sumatra) musicians performed their melodious
traditional songs. I am Betawi, therefore I had to foster my own
culture," Benyamin exclaimed.

Born 55 years ago to a middle-class Betawi couple, H. Suaeb
and Siti Aisyah, of Kemayoran, Benyamin became familiar with
Betawi traditional music and keroncong, Portuguese style music.

"Kemayoran was once the city's center for local keroncong
musicians," said Benyamin, who has a singing voice ranging from
baritone to bass.

Even so, he had to walk a rocky path to introduce Betawi music
to a wider audience. "At that time, I was quite pessimistic and
found no way to win the hearts of audiences. Everybody seemed to
refuse this musical style. TVRI, the only state-owned television
company, and RRI, the state-owned radio station, banned my songs
because they considered the Betawi language too vulgar," he
complained.

The use of Betawi language terms such as elu (you), gue
(I),Pale lu peyang (mind your head), were seen as a bad influence
on the Indonesian language.

But, his humorous and satirical songs finally began to draw a
large audience from the lower-middle to upper classes of society.

One music critic has commented that Benyamin's songs appeal to
many people from all walks of life because of his humorous style.
This is also an aspect of the Indonesian public's eventual
acceptance of Betawi culture, its tradition and vocabulary as
well, the critic said.

"Now, many young people from Sabang (the westernmost city in
Aceh province) to Merauke (the easternmost city in Irian Jaya
province) try to master the Betawi language in order to be called
modern people," Benyamin said proudly.

His star truly began to shine when he had the opportunity to
perform duets with female pop artists like Rita Zahara, Inneke
Kusumawatie, Herlina and Ida Royani. His recordings of Betawi
songs with Ida Royani were particularly popular.

After he gained popularity as a prominent Betawi singer,
Benyamin took a look at the possibilities in the world of film.

It was the noted director Syumandjaya who discovered
Benyamin's natural acting talent. The director, who died a few
years later, cast him in the role of a tacky Betawi man who was
struggling to keep up with the modernization process in a film
called Si Doel Anak Modern. In this film, Benyamin played
opposite of prominent actress Christine Hakim. This satirical
comedy won both Benyamin and Syumandjaya prestigious Citra
awards as best actor and best director (l976).

"I owe much to Syumandjaya for encouraging me to plunge into
the film world. He knew how to deal with my "strange character".
He wrote scenarios as if they were only intended for me,"
explained Benyamin.

His strong acting skills paved a golden road ahead for his
film career. He played in a large number films, becoming one of
Indonesia's most popular actors in the mid l970s, when the
Indonesian film industry had its golden years.

"Now, the local film industry is collapsing. We should be
creative to seek other sources. Most film artists are now moving
to TV series (locally known as sinetron)," said Benyamin who has
starred in a number of popular series, such as Si Doel Anak
Sekolahan, which is based on a Betawi theme.

Many film critics say that the strength of Si Doel mostly lies
in the apt portrayal of Babe Sabeni (by Benyamin) and Mandra (by
Mandra).

He said that he was glad that the Si Doel series broadcast by
RCTI, has become one of the favorite local television series
nationwide. He is currently working on two other series, both
exploiting Betawi culture. The first is Mat Beken for the TPI
educational television station, and the second is Begaye FM to be
shown on RCTI early next month.

"Thank God, I always receive so many orders. My schedule is so
tight. All my prosperity comes from Allah, therefore we have to
use it properly otherwise He will take it back from us," smiled
Benyamin, who just completed his 12th Haj pilgrimage to Mecca.

The secret to the recent success of this father of eight
children lies in his painstaking endeavor to promote Betawi
culture. " Diligence and consistency are means with which to
triumph in our lives," he added.

Benyamin, a drop-out of a Bank Academy, went on to say that he
keeps reading and monitoring current news to widen his horizons.
"It is important for an artist to learn as many subject as
possible. Many people always think that Betawi people are lazy,
but I want to erase this image," Benyamin said.

Having been involved in the entertainment world for more than
30 years, Benyamin feels that he should be retiring in the near
future.

"Most Betawi artists are now in their 50s and 60s. We need a
regeneration process to replace us. We are now grooming new
talents by involving young Betawi artists in my projects," said
the all-round artist, who is also popular as a master of
ceremonies, a talk show host, a film producer and a radio
station owner.

He said that it is very difficult to find new Betawi artists
due to social obstacles. "Most Betawi families will not allow
their children to pursue careers in the entertainment scene,"
Benyamin said.

Betawi people are very religious. Many families prefer their
children to seek careers as ulemas, he said.

"But, I feel optimistic that Betawi arts and culture will
remain alive if our younger generation continues our tireless
efforts," he concluded.