Setu Babakan revives traditional Betawi games through exhibition

The Management Unit for the Betawi Cultural Village (UPK PBB) Setu Babakan in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, is reviving traditional games through its annual temporary exhibition. “This activity is more than just nostalgia. It aims to reintroduce the values of togetherness, self-control, sportsmanship and cooperation contained in folk games to the younger generation,” said Head of UPK PBB Setu Babakan Debby Novita Andriani in Jakarta on Sunday. Debby said the exhibition showcases various types of traditional Betawi games and entertainment, such as dampu, pletokan and rubber-band games. Carrying the theme “Saban Maen Bikin Girang, Hiburan Jadul yang Kagak Ilang” (Every Game Brings Joy, Old-School Entertainment That Never Fades), the event is held to enliven the 81st anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia. She explained that the word “maen” was deliberately chosen to affirm Betawi identity, even though the standard Indonesian word is “main”. For the Betawi community, playing is not merely about winning and losing. “Playing is about togetherness, learning to yield, being patient, and practising self-control so that the heart becomes joyful,” she said. According to her, the activity is a concrete step in preserving folk games as objects of cultural advancement amid modernisation. “As the only education centre and Betawi cultural laboratory owned by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, Setu Babakan remains committed to strengthening local cultural identity amid Jakarta’s transformation into a global city,” she said. Debby said that to ensure cultural preservation continues in DKI Jakarta, a pentahelix collaboration approach is applied, involving various elements from government, the community, academics, universities and the private sector. She added that in addition to presenting a collection of traditional games, the exhibition series is also complemented by knowledge management activities. Participants are invited to take part in Gambang Kromong music workshops and training in making bir pletok, a Betawi beverage regulated under Governor Regulation No. 11 of 2017. “We hope this temporary exhibition can be followed by all participants and visitors until the end, while also serving as a momentum to strengthen pride in Jakarta’s cultural heritage,” she said. Debby therefore advised the younger generation not to rely solely on digital windows to broaden their perspectives, but also to uphold cultural values by learning history and preserving culture. “Through these games, we can develop character and identity through togetherness, emotional control and honesty. Thus, these values can become a guide and companion in socialising, cooperating and interacting socially,” she said. Meanwhile, Widyastuti, a Senior Widyaiswara at the Human Resources Development Agency of DKI Jakarta Province, expressed appreciation to the DKI Jakarta Culture Office, particularly UPK PBB Setu Babakan, for raising the theme of traditional Betawi games. “This activity can become an important knowledge asset for the younger generation,” she said. She expressed hope that the DKI Jakarta Culture Office can shift the focus of the younger generation, including Gen Z, so that there is a balance between the use of technology and traditional games of the past.