Sundanese games in several big cities are dying

By Kafil Yamin

BANDUNG (JP): Yuceu Dewi Sakinah, 10, is among the lucky little girls who can enjoy both old and new games. During her fasting, she plays sondah, a traditional Sundanese game similar to hopscotch, with her friends in front of her house here. Some other girls watch her game with curiosity. "What is she playing?," asks a small watcher.

She also plays congkak, beklen, babacakan and other "strange" games that most of her friends in the neighborhood do not recognize. They are more familiar with skating or video games, which have nothing to do with their traditions.

However, this is not unusual and is part of an alarming trend that threatens an important facet of traditional Sundanese life for city dwellers. Research conducted recently by the Taman Budaya Sunda (Sundanese Art Park) revealed that at least 55 of 60 traditional Sundanese games are already "dead", in the sense that they are no longer recognized by Sundanese children. The few remaining games are struggling for survival.

This startling figure, however, only applies to cities. In villages some 80 percent of the traditional games are still being played by Sundanese children.

Why are traditional games ignored and discarded in cities?

According to Sundanese artist Nano Suratno, who heads the Sundanese Art Park, rapid industrialization pushes aside traditional values, norms and products.

"Every day, new products and new information, including new games, are introduced and pass before our eyes on TV, in books and magazines, etc. You have no time to defend and hold onto the past. Every day we are compelled to try something new, so we have no time to develop or even to defend our past," he says.

Limited space in cities is another factor leading to the death of traditional games. "Many of the traditional games need large spaces. You cannot play gatrik (softball using a bamboo stick) in a small alley," says Lilis Maryati, a researcher of Sundanese traditions.

Several games even need unlimited space. "If you play babancakan (a game of cat and mouse), you use the whole neighborhood," she adds.

Suratno is befuddled by the scarcity of space. In Japan, he says, neighborhoods are as crowded as in Indonesian cities, the houses are small and the price of land is very high. Yet each neighborhood has open spaces for the children to play.

"Here, our children have no room to play," he adds.

The death of traditional games is also being brought about by parents' disregard and ignorance of these games. Parents may have been born in villages where they played traditional games, but since they moved to cities their social circles have changed as has the amount of pressure they must face in daily life. These changes often mean that the parents will eventually forget the old games of their childhood.

"On the weekend, parents take their children to playgrounds in malls and supermarkets rather than teaching their children the traditional games," Maryati says, adding that second generation city migrants may be totally ignorant of traditional games.

So how does Yuceu still remember and play traditional games? During school vacations and weekends, her parents take her to Tasikmalaya, the village of her grandparents. During her stays in the village, she meets and plays with other children in the village. It is during these times that she learns the old games.

"I can play video games, computer games and skate, but playing traditional games is much more exciting," Yuceu says.

Some residents of Taman Bukit Lagadar, Yuceu's neighborhood, are also migrants from regencies in West Java. They regularly take their children on visits to their hometowns.

During this month of Ramadhan, children in villages pass the time playing. They return home late in the afternoon, just before it is time to break the fast.

One of the games the children play is war, using bamboo pistols they make themselves. The number of participants in this game is unlimited and so is the space. A participant can roam as far as possible.

"I think the positive side of the older generation is that they are less dependent (than the younger generation). When they were children, if they wanted to have a toy car they made it themselves. Children today ask their parents for money to buy it," Suratno says.

Lilis Maryati and Nano Suratno believe that Sundanese traditional games will survive only if concerned people do something to preserve the games. Local authorities will have to play a key role if this is to happen. A teacher here once asked, "If the government can provide huge playgrounds in malls for modern games, why can't they do the same for traditional games?"

Maryati says that the promotion of traditional games should be a joint action. The local government, educators, teachers and parents should work together in this effort.

The Sundanese Art Council recently held an exhibition featuring Sundanese traditional games, and they invited children to the exhibition to learn how to play these games.

"In fact, those 'modern' children really like the games," says Maryati.

The council is also printing and distributing books on the games. The books are expected to become one of many reference tools in primary and secondary schools. "In this way, children will recognize their own pasts and traditions," she says.

Meanwhile, Suratno underlines the need for open spaces for children to play.

In this big country, there should be space for all children to run free.