'Dangdut' shows for Jakarta's anniversary
Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Jakarta administration is set to celebrate the city's 476th anniversary with a wide range of activities, including dangdut (traditional folk music with Indian influences) shows across the city and traditional Betawi musical performances at the Jakarta Fair in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Saturday.
On five large stages in each of the city's five municipalities will host dangdut shows that are expected to attract large crowds. All the shows will be free of charge.
Rhoma Irama, who has been jeered for his critical view of fellow dangdut singer Inul Daratista, is scheduled to perform at the Blok S soccer field in South Jakarta.
Rhoma, long acknowledged as the "king of dangdut", earlier whined that Inul's trademark gyrating hip dance, popularly known as ngebor (the driller), was morally reprehensible and overly sexually tempting, and therefore a negative influence on the nation, but the statement simply made Inul even more popular.
Other stages are located at the plaza of the City Hall in Central Jakarta, Arion Plaza in East Jakarta, Sukapura field in North Jakarta and the Daan Mogot Mall in West Jakarta.
Governor Sutiyoso is scheduled to initiate a morning ceremony on Saturday at 7 a.m. in Monas park, Central Jakarta, where he will give his speech on the city's anniversary in front of some 15,000 employees of the city administration. Noted local movie actor Deddy Mizwar will read one version of the history of Jakarta.
The Jakarta Fair 2003 in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, will present the "Betawi Night Market", featuring traditional Betawi musical performances such as keroncong Tugu, gambang kromong and cokek.
Television soap opera actors and actresses will also spice up the festivities at the fairground when they perform a musical with a theme concerning Jakarta.
Taman Impian Jaya Ancol recreation park in North Jakarta, will also host dangdut performances until the wee hours. A display of fireworks is scheduled in Ancol for 10 p.m.
Ancol will also exempt visitors from entrance fees on Sunday as a part of the city's anniversary celebration.
Furthermore, during the actual date of the city's anniversary on Sunday, the governor is scheduled to deliver a speech to a plenary session of the City Council in the morning to mark the anniversary.
Meanwhile, in spite of the planned celebrations, the public remains critical of the city's endemic problems, including garbage disposal, annual floods and poor public transportation.
"The fact that I was born here does not blind me from seeing that this city is very disorderly and absolutely not an ideal place to live, while its governor keeps making questionable decisions and projects not for the 'advantage' of the citizens," said Bambang, 32, who works at a private bank on Jl. Sudirman in South Jakarta. Water -- Page 8
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Jakarta 476th anniversary event schedule ---------------------------------------------------------------- Date Venue Event ---------------------------------------------------------------- June 21 7 p.m. Jakarta Fair Betawi Night Market June 21 8 p.m. Blok S Soccer Field Music by Rhoma Irama June 21 8 p.m. Arion Plaza Music by Dorce June 21 8 p.m. Sukapura Field Music by Cici Paramida June 21 8 p.m. Daan Mogot Mall Music by Vivi Effendi June 21 8 p.m. Plaza City Hall Music by PAMMI June 21 8 p.m. Taman Impian Jaya Ancol Music by various artists June 21 10 p.m. Taman Impian Jaya Ancol Fireworks June 22 7 p.m. Jakarta Fair Music by the Fly,
Smesta and Bungakama Source: The Jakarta International Trade Festival and city administration ----------------------------------------------------------------