Tantowi Yahya warms to United States

Yenni Djahidin, Contributor, Washington

There is no doubt that entertainer Tantowi Yahya is popular in Indonesia, what is more of a surprise is the increasing recognition he has on the other side of the world.

The Jakarta Post found him seated at the back of a trendy restaurant in a Washington D.C. suburb, where most of the patrons were relaxing outdoors, enjoying the warm and brilliant early evening sky.

The waitress who showed the Post to the table, did a double take and checked to confirm who Tantowi was.

The multitalented showman, who it turns out has already made it onto U.S. primetime TV, is in the United States as part of the Eisenhower Fellowship (EF) program. Tantowi said he was initially surprised to be on the nomination list from Indonesia.

EF's Multi-Nation Program invites 25 emerging leaders from as many countries to the U.S. each year. The program provides two months of travel across the U.S., with a custom-designed program for each participant.

Tantowi said the fellowships were associated with politics, economy, environment and culture. Former fellows from Indonesia including Trade Minister Marie Pangestu and journalist Yuli Ismartono. However, Tantowi is the first member of the entertainment industry to be chosen for the honor.

"This is the first time they (EF) opened a door for the entertainment industry, which is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world," he said.

As required by the fellowship, Tantowi designed an itinerary based on his capacity as an entertainer and as chairman of the Indonesian-American Friendship Association (PPIA). He proposed a series of meetings with representatives of the American entertainment industry.

"It's not easy for my program officer to secure appointments with these well-known people because they are very busy," he said.

Tantowi said that such people might also be suspicious about his motives. "They might think I want to sell a program, look for a job or steal their ideas," he added.

Despite that, the host of the Indonesian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? was able to meet with entertainment industry representatives in New York City, Nashville, and California, including officials at the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the producer and organizer of the Grammy Awards.

Tantowi said he was also had a chance to appear on ABC television's morning show, Live With Regis and Kelly. "First, I was in the audience, but then Regis (Philbin) asked me a lot of questions right after Drew Barrymore," he said proudly.

But what made the country music singer even happier was the result of his meeting with the Country Music Association in Nashville, Tennessee.

"Next year, I have been invited to represent Indonesia and perform at the annual country music festival in Nashville," he said.

Tantowi was born and grew up in the southern Sumatran city of Palembang. He said his family liked to listen to Western music, including country music from the U.S. He took lessons in English after school and later graduated from the National Hotel and Tourism Institute in Bandung.

Despite never living or studying in the United States, Tantowi said he always liked America. As PPIA chairman, he had previously proposed meetings with leaders of similar associations in the United States.

Tantowi said he had also met with the secretary-general of the American Library Association in Chicago. As a result, the association agreed to send about 100,000 second-hand books to the PPIA.

"We shall distribute the books to the institutions that need them," he said. A short time later, he frowned and said, "the only problem we are facing now is the shipping cost." But the frown soon disappeared. "But I think we shall find a way," he said.

Not all of his meetings ended so happily. Tantowi met with groups that work to protect intellectual copyright, including the one for International Intellectual Property Rights, a national music publisher and the American Society of Song Writers and Publishers.

These groups were very concerned at the level of copyright piracy in Indonesia and asked Tantowi to urge the Indonesian government to pay special attention to this problem.

"They (the groups) have accurate data on the piracy (here). They even knew where to obtain these pirated products," he said.

Tantowi said the groups wanted the Indonesian government to implement Indonesian copyright laws and were very frustrated with what was going on in Indonesia.

"I wouldn't say they have given up, but they are losing hope," Tantowi said.

During their talks, the groups told him they were lobbying the U.S. government and Congress to take steps against Indonesia if it did not fix the problem.

When asked what he would do when he returns to Indonesia, Tantowi said that he would be a different person. He said he learned that wealthy people in the U.S. give money to a variety of charitable foundations to promote different causes.

"God has blessed me with some talent, so I shall share it with my fellow Indonesians for free," said the 44-year-old father of one.

Tantowi said he would try to implement some things that he learned in the U.S. to improve the entertainment industry and the organization he led.

But he conceded some things would be hard to implement in Indonesia where many groups depended on government help.

"We can't always rely on government funding. We have to be creative in finding funding from the private sector," he said.

He would also like to emulate the professional associations in the United States. "These groups are very helpful in lobbying the government," he said.

Tantowi said he was very happy to meet Americans from many different backgrounds. "America is huge. It is not like most Indonesians think or perceive it to be -- not at all," he said.

Tantowi said that most Indonesians equate America with its government. "I was here for almost two months and did not receive any unfair racial treatment," he said.

"People are very friendly and welcoming," he added, with a smile on his face.

"They like to make friends."