University hosts festival to promote Betawi culture

University hosts festival to promote Betawi culture

DEPOK (JP): The latest effort to promote the culture of the
Betawi (original Jakartans) is the two-day Pesta Betawi 1996
festival, held yesterday and today at the University of
Indonesia.

The event by the student body of the university's School of
Letters in Depok features a discussion on Betawi culture, art
shows and a Betawi food festival.

"The festival is aimed at promoting Betawi culture, the place
of campus," M. Syakur Usman, the chairman of the organizing
committee, said.

"It is a shame that the school which teaches about other
cultures, local and foreign, does not care about Betawi culture,"
he said.

Syakur said by holding the festival the students of the School
of Letters and other schools at the university will understand
the culture better.

Governor Surjadi Soedirdja welcomed the event which he said
supports efforts by the administration and the Betawi assembly
board (Bamus).

"Betawi culture will survive in a time in which various
cultures, local and foreign, affect the life of the young
generation, provided this kind of activity is held regularly,"
Surjadi said when opening the festival.

He said that Betawi culture is beginning to be loved by
Indonesians, as indicated by the popularity of TV series Si Doel
Anak Sekolahan, which revolves around the lives of Betawi people.

Surjadi said the festival will also hopefully help to increase
the quality of the Betawi culture.

The native Jakarta community is often said to have decreased
both in their cultural and economic position due to other
influences in the city.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Betawi assembly board,
Amarullah Asbah, said the festival is the second to be held by
the university.

The first festival was held last year by the School of Social
and Political Sciences.

"The board is always trying to promote the culture through
various mediums including students, and I appreciate the
students' interest in the culture," he said.

Amarullah said that although the festival is held in a simple
campus style without a special stage for the opening ceremony or
elaborate settings, the students have played a role in promoting
Betawi culture. (yns)