DANGDUT MUSIC TO GO INTERNATIONAL

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Soon, Indonesians will not be the only ones shaking their
bodies and swinging their hips to dangdut music, but so will people in America and other
countries.
Indonesia`s dangdut musicians are planning to propose that dangdut be included on the
UNESCO`s cultural heritage list.
Dangdut is a genre of Indonesian popular music that is partly derived from Malay, Arabic,
and Hindustani music. Dangdut is largely composed of cheerful rhythms and is very popular
among Indonesian grass roots fans.
In the third congress of the Association of Indonesian Dangdut Malay Musicians and
Singers (PAMMI) in Surabaya, East Java, in early March 2012, Dangdut artists suggested that
the unique musical genre be proposed for inclusion on the UNESCO cultural heritage list.
"I am initiating the idea to propose dangdut to UNESCO. Let the world know that dangdut
music belongs to Indonesia. It must be fought for, and of course we need support," Rhoma Irama,
the PAMMI chairman and `King of Dangdut`, said.
Ikke Nurjanah, who was elected new executive chairman of PAMMI at the Surabaya
meeting, also promised to do her best to send the proposal to UNESCO.
"After our batik received recognition from UNESCO, it`s now time for dangdut because it
is a musical genre found only in Indonesia. No other country plays dangdut music but Indonesia,"
the attractive, young dangdut singer said.
PAMMI`s idea was supported by Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung
Laksono.
"We agree with the suggestion to have dangdut recognized by UNESCO as being part of
Indonesia`s heritage. All prerequisites should be met. The government is ready to support it,"
Minister Laksono said on the sidelines of the PAMMI congress in Surabaya on March 3.
He is optimistic that if dangdut receives international recognition, it will also bring
economic benefits to Indonesia.
The minister believes that, at present, all Indonesians and global communities are aware
that dangdut music is exclusively Indonesian.
The minister encouraged dangdut musicians to contact related ministries, such as the
ministries of education and culture, youth affairs and sports, as well as people`s welfare, to help
prepare the proposal for UNESCO.
Items of Indonesia`s cultural heritages included in UNESCO`s Representative List of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity are the Angklung bamboo music instrument (2010),
Batik traditional textile 2009, and Kris blade and Wayang Puppet Theatre (2008).
Saman dance, globally popular as the `Thousand Hands` dance from Indonesia`s western
most province of Aceh, was included in UNESCO`s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in
Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2011.
Borobudur Temple was added to the World Cultural Heritage List in 1991, along with the
Prambanan Temple compounds. In 1996, UNESCO included the Sangiran Early Man Site in
Solo, Central Java, where the first hominid fossil of mammals walking upright was discovered
during excavations conducted from 1936 to 1941.