This Musician Creates an Eid Song, Criticising the Government and Corruption in Indonesia
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Who would have thought that an Eid song, traditionally associated with a warm atmosphere full of forgiveness, actually harbours sharp criticism of the government and corruption practices in Indonesia.
The song in question is “Selamat Hari Lebaran,” a work by the maestro of Indonesian music, Ismail Marzuki. For a long time, many people have known the song only as accompaniment to the Idulfitri moments—with lyrics emphasising social bonds, mutual forgiveness, and joy after a month of fasting.
However, behind the religious and joyful nuances, there lies a much “sharper” message.
The song was first created in 1952, during the early years of Indonesian independence when political and economic conditions were still unstable. During that period, corruption practices had already begun to take root among the elite, from politicians and bureaucrats to businesspeople. Various government programmes were often hampered by bribery and personal interests.
It was this situation that sparked Ismail Marzuki’s concern. He then poured it into an Eid song that was easily accepted by the wider public, but secretly inserted social criticism.
The sarcasm is evident in the original lyrics:
“Lang taon hidup prihatin
Kondangan boleh kurangin
Korupsi jangan kerjain”
Through these lyrics, Ismail did not merely invite the public to celebrate the day of victory, but also reminded them to use the Idulfitri moment as a point of reflection, including stopping corruption practices that harm the nation.
In the book Ismail Marzuki: Senandung Melintas Zaman (2014) by Ninok Leksono, it is mentioned that the composer was indeed angry at the corruption that never ceased. He hoped that through the medium of popular music, his message could reach more people and encourage change.
However, over time, that critical message “disappeared.”
Entering the New Order era, lyrics that touched on corruption were gradually removed by singers who reinterpreted the song. To this day, the widely circulating version only features the celebratory side of Eid—without traces of the social criticism once inserted by its creator.
As a result, the original meaning of the song has also been diminished. From what was originally a medium for criticism of the government and corruption practices, it is now more known merely as a ceremonial song.
In other words, behind the familiar strains of “Selamat Hari Lebaran” in our ears, there lies a stark reminder: true victory is not just about holding back from hunger and thirst, but also holding back from corruption.