'Sesando', a unique East Nusa Tenggara souvenir
'Sesando', a unique East Nusa Tenggara souvenir
By Yakob Herin
KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): Each of the country's 27
provinces has its own uniqueness, not only in customs, but also
in the arts and culture. East Nusa Tenggara, for example, is the
only place where the sesando is found.
The sesando is a musical instrument made of lontar (palm)
leaves. Describing the sesando is tantamount to delving into the
history of the province's various ethnic groups. It was the
ancestors of the inhabitants of Roti, an island located northwest
of Kupang, who invented the sesando. Roti can be reached in six
hours by boat from Kupang.
It started in 1875, when two brothers, shepherds, were tending
to their cattle to a field. While waiting for the cattle to
finish grazing the two brothers wanted a drink of water. They had
no container to hold the water and took a lontar leaf which they
folded in such a way as to make it capable of holding water.
They took the lontar leaf home and used it as a dipper. One
day, the two brothers attached a string, also made of lontar, to
the leaf. They plucked the string with their fingers and heard a
guitar-like sound.
"It has been since then that the ancestors of Roti inhabitants
have called it the sesando," said Jeremias August Pah, owner of
the Sesando home industry in Oepelo, Central Kupang, 15
kilometers east of Kupang.
Jeremias said he thought of a home industry to preserve his
ancestors' legacy. He began the sesando industry by instructing
his own children in order that the younger generation did not
forget this cultural heritage. Moreover, sesando is one of the
more popular souvenirs from Indonesia, especially from East Nusa
Tenggara.
In 1986, Jeremias started his industry with three workers, all
school dropouts. It has developed over the years and now has 12
workers. They are paid according to their skills; Rp 30,000, Rp
45,000, Rp 60,000 and Rp 90,000 a month. The workers also receive
meal allowances and medical benefits.
In the past few years, there have been many orders from
government officials and an increasing demand by foreign
tourists. Jeremias said East Nusa Tenggara Governor Herman
Musakabe recently ordered 500 sesando. Orders sometimes exceed
this amount. The frequent orders forced Jeremias to increase his
production.
Jeremias says his average monthly net income is Rp 2,500,000.
There are also savings accounts for all the workers. He would not
reveal the amount.
His dream is to save as much capital as possible, in order to
record sesando music and buy a cart to sell the recorded
cassettes at the local port when the car ferries Kelimutu and
Dobonsolo call in.
"This can increase the capital of my industry," Jeremias said.