More youths turn street singing as crisis drags on

More youths turn street singing as crisis drags on

By Prabandari

YOGYAKARTA (JP): For bus passengers and commuters from Solo
(Surakarta) to Yogyakarta, pengamen (street singers) are very
familiar. They get on the bus at every major bus stop and get off
at the next one.

After the crisis almost sank the Indonesian economy, the
number of street singers kept rising. There are many reasons why
these people choose to be street singers. Poverty is the most
common. A street singer will get at least Rp 15,000 per day and,
if they are lucky, they can earn up to Rp 40,000 a day.

Ateng, a dwarf street singer from Klaten, said that he didn't
have any other occupation or skill but singing. His physical
handicap hasn't allowed him to find employment with a company.
But despite the physical handicap, Ateng never feels inferior. He
is always optimistic and proud and tells people about his two
wives.

"Ladies and gentlemen, here I sing to get money for my
children, wives and WIL," this is a familiar prologue for the bus
passengers. WIL stands for Wanita Idaman Lain, which means
mistress. Ateng's prologue makes male passengers smile or laugh
and women embarrassed.

Yanto, owner of a restaurant in the Klaten bus Terminal,
believes that street singers get more money than the average
Indonesian. Every night, street singers will come to his
restaurant to change money. This is "mutual cooperation": Yanto
needs the coins, and the singers need banknotes of bigger value.

Bayu, a street singer, always takes his mini guitar when he
gets on the bus. Accompanied by Agus, he will first hum a tune
before singing traditional songs. His favorites are Campursari
songs, a blend of Javanese traditional pentatonic music with
modern music.

Campursari is very popular in Solo and Yogyakarta. When Bayu
sings Mawar Biru (Blue roses) or Randha Kempling (New Widow), the
passengers usually move their feet and mumble a few of the
lyrics. At the end of his performance, Bayu usually says that he
wishes to receive money from the passengers.

"If you don't have any coins, I will be happy enough to
receive your banknotes. If you want to give me a ring, bracelet
or necklace, I'll very much appreciate it," he says before he
begins collecting money.

Bayu said that older women are usually generous and never
think twice before giving him money. Sometimes, especially when
they love the song, they will give him up to Rp 1,000.

Before the crisis hit Indonesia, there were only about 10
street singers that passengers saw regularly on the bus serving
the Solo, Klaten and Yogyakarta route, but after the crisis their
number increased to hundreds.

Nyadi, the manager of shelterhouse Rumah Singgah Anak Mandiri
(RSAP) in Yogyakarta blamed poverty for the increasing number of
street singers.

"Crisis makes it more difficult for people to earn their
living, and the poor suffer even more. Many factories have been
closed down, and people have lost their jobs. The whole society
is depressed and as a result, there are more children running to
the streets to seek a living," Nyadi said.

He added that runaway teenagers usually don't have the skills
to do any other jobs but singing.

"I always try to give them motivation to make a decent living.
Asking them to save and avoid the consumptive way of life doesn't
work," Nyadi said hopelessly.

He added that the street singers, especially the teens, are
very comsumptive. They use their money to buy cigarettes, sex
services, drugs and other nonproductive things.

"Sometimes I call on the people not to give them money. They
need attention, education and love more than money," he said.
"Being a street singer is the easiest way to get money, so they
never think to seek for another job."

"Many university graduates fail to get jobs, and I think it is
not a sin to be a street singer. No use going to school if in the
end we can't get a good job," said Sobur, a street singer in
Yogyakarta. He said that he ran away from home at the age of
eight.

"I'm happy to be a street singer. I can move from one city to
another only with this simple icik-icik," he added. Icik-icik is
a homemade musical instrument comprised of a string of Coke caps
played by striking it against the other hand.