Oplet Robet: Jakarta's anniversary a momentum to preserve Betawi culture

The Betawi arts community Oplet Robet is leveraging the celebration of Jakarta’s 499th anniversary as a momentum to continue nurturing and preserving Betawi culture amidst the strong currents of global cultural influence. Oplet Robet founder Ramdhani Qubil AJ, known as Bang Qubil, said the community, established in 2000, is committed to safeguarding, developing, and preserving Betawi culture through various art performances, including lenong. “Since the birth of Oplet Robet, we have indeed agreed that we will guard, develop, preserve, and care for Betawi culture,” said Bang Qubil after the Lenong Kampung Te-Ko performance at Galeri Indonesia Kaya, Jakarta, on Saturday. According to him, the city’s anniversary is an important moment for the Betawi arts community to show that local culture still has a place amidst the city’s development towards becoming a global city. “The government has announced that next year is the 500th anniversary of Jakarta, a Global City. Whatever global means, local culture must still be able to survive, must be sustainable, must be cared for by us,” he said. Bang Qubil stated that arts communities cannot resist the changing times but must be able to adapt without abandoning their cultural roots. For this reason, Oplet Robet strives to present innovation in Betawi art performances so they remain relevant to today’s society. “We indeed cannot fight the times, but at the very least we innovate. The roots of Betawi culture cannot be thrown away; Gambang Kromong music must be maintained forever,” he said. Through the Lenong Kampung Te-Ko performance, Oplet Robet is participating in the series of Jakarta anniversary celebrations by presenting stories of village community life amidst the dynamics of a big city. Bang Qubil hopes there will be more spaces for arts communities to express themselves while introducing Betawi culture to the wider public. “Jakarta, God willing, will become a Global City; once again, local culture must still be upheld,” he said.