Islamic song contest staged in Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): Muhammadiyah's culture council is staging an Islamic song contest here to mark the upcoming Moslem fasting month of Ramadhan and the Idul Fitri holiday.

Nasrullah M. Dilla Makkawi, who chairs the organizing committee, said the contest, entitled Nuansa '99 Lomba Cipta Lagu Islam, was being staged to encourage musicians to create songs with an Islamic nuance.

"It is also intended to trace the extent to which Islam has influenced developments in the arts and culture," he said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post.

He said the contest began on Nov. 15, 1998 and would last until Feb. 17, 1999. Winners will be announced on Feb. 28.

The contest is open to the public, senior high school students, university students and song writers.

Those interested in entering should contact the organizing committee secretariat at Gedung Pusat Dakwah Muhammadiyah, Jl. Menteng Raya No. 62, Central Jakarta, phone: (021) 3903021-22, Fax: (021) 3903024. (hhr)