Indonesian angklung artistes regale football fans
Renowned angklung artistes from Indonesia enthralled football fans from various parts of the world with their dazzling performances for 11 days at Katara – the Cultural Village.
The cultural event, in line with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 celebrations, puts a spotlight on Indonesia’s rich culture and heritage with Saung Angklung Udjo’s live performances. It was organised by the Indonesian embassy in Doha in collaboration with Katara from November 18-28.
“Around 12 angklung performers from Indonesia and hundreds of performers from our community in Qatar have joined this show. It is part of our public diplomacy to build understanding among the international communities in Qatar through culture,” said Indonesian ambassador Ridwan Hassan in a press statement.
The embassy brought Saung Angklung Udjo from Bandung to Doha to give residents and visitors a series of unique cultural presentations using traditional musical instruments.
This was backed by the performances of Indonesian diaspora members in Qatar, with the support from the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture and the Association of Indonesian Community in Qatar (Permiqa).
“On the stage, visitors not only enjoy our performance but also were able to practice how to play angklung” said Taufiq Udjo, the team leader from Saung Angklung Udjo, Bandung.
Angklung, an Indonesian musical instrument made of bamboo, originated in West Java. Unesco inscribed angklung as the ‘Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ in 2010, the embassy noted.
Angklung tubes symbolise human life: the large and small tubes located next to each other in each instrument represent an individual’s growth and capabilities. Different tube sizes signify the truth that all people have different roles to play to create harmony and peace in this world.
“Angklung symbolises nothing but beauty in harmony. No matter how strong or capable we are, we could never present the masterpiece without integration and co-operation,” Hassan said.
Udjo’s House of Angklung is located in the eastern part of Bandung, and aims to underline the “beautiful harmony of vibrating bamboos that echoes from this simple amphitheatre all the way to the other side of the world”, according to Wonderful Indonesia’s website. “It spreads the values of simplicity, co-operation, unity, and togetherness, as well as maintaining the mutual relationship between humans and the environment”.
Outside Katara, Indonesian cultural activation artistes have also attracted a huge number of football fans with their live performances at Metro stations. Several other Indonesian cultural performances and activities were held in various locations in Qatar in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup.