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)