Lampung Residents Flock to Catch Glimpse of Jokowi During Adat Title Ceremony

The arrival of Indonesia’s 7th President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), at Kedatun Keagungan on Jalan Sultan Haji in Sepang Jaya, Labuhan Ratu, Bandar Lampung, on Saturday morning was met with an enthusiastic reception from locals. Eager to see the former president up close, residents, predominantly housewives and children, crowded outside the venue, with some resorting to climbing boundary walls and peering through gaps in the fence. The unique moment occurred as Jokowi attended a traditional ceremony to receive an honorary adat title. According to observations at the location, residents had been waiting for Jokowi’s arrival since 07:00 WIB, and the crowd continued to swell throughout the event. As access to the main area of Kedatun Keagungan was restricted, many chose to stand and observe the proceedings through holes in the perimeter wall, with several even climbing onto the wall to witness the moment the former president entered. Yati, a 47-year-old local resident, said she deliberately came early in the morning to see Jokowi up close, having known about the visit for three days. She noted that during his two terms in office, she had only ever seen him on television and social media, and she was willing to postpone her housework for the rare opportunity. Another resident, Rohaya, who arrived at dawn with her child and neighbours, expressed her joy at briefly seeing Jokowi in person despite not being able to enter the main event area. During the visit, Jokowi was awarded the honorary adat title ‘Baginda Pemuka Bangsa’ by Lampung traditional leaders in a ceremony involving three kinship groups: Penyeimbang Buwai Way Kanan, Buwai Subbing Terbanggi Balak, and Buwai Bulan Megow Pak Tulang Bawang. Following the ceremony, Jokowi continued his political safari in Lampung, scheduled to attend a PSI Regional Coordination Meeting in Bandar Lampung and meet with volunteers, before travelling to Pesawaran Regency to visit the Transmigration Museum, Padepokan Gajah Lampung, and the Maliosewu MSME Centre. His working visit and political safari in Lampung is scheduled to last three days, from 26 to 28 June 2026.