INDONESIAN CULTURE; ARTS AND TRADITIONS

Indonesia is culturally rich. Indonesian art and culture are intertwined with religion and age-old
traditions from the time of early migrants with Western thoughts brought by Portuguese traders
and Dutch colonists. The basic principles which guide life include the concepts of mutual
assistance or “gotong royong” and consultations or “musyawarah” to arrive at a consensus or
“mufakat” Derived from rural life, this system is still very much in use in community life
throughout the country.

Though the legal system is based on the old Dutch penal code, social life as well as the rites of
passage are founded on customary or “adat” law which differs from area to area. “Adat” law has
a binding impact on Indonesian life and it may be concluded that this law has been instrumental
in maintaining equal rights for women in the community. Religious influences on the community
are variously evident from island to island.
Language

The official language of Indonesia is ‘Indonesian’ or ‘Bahasa Indonesia’. It’s universally taught
in schools and is spoken by nearly every Indonesian in business, politics, national media,
education and academia. The Indonesians also speak several hundreds of local languages like
‘bahasa daerah’ as their first language.

Religion

The government of Indonesia officially recognizes only six religions, viz Islam, Hinduism,
Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism, and Confucianism. The largest religious group in
Indonesia is Islam with almost 86% of Indonesians being Muslims. Indonesia is also the most
populous Muslim-majority nation in the world.
Literature

Indonesia has created many internationally famous celebrated authors. There has also been a
long tradition, particularly among ethnically Malay populations, of impromptu, interactive,
verbal composition of poetry referred to as the ‘pantun’. Pramoedya Ananta Toer, a well-known
author won the Magsaysay Award and was considered for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Chairil
Anwar was also an important figure in the literature world and a member of the Generation 45
group of authors who were active in the Indonesian independence movement.

Music

Home to hundreds of forms of music, it plays an important role in Indonesia’s art and culture.
Traces of its origin can be made to the islands of Java, Sumatra and Bali. ‘Gamelan’ is the
traditional music from Central- and East Java and Bali. Another very popular style of music is
‘Dangdut’ which is accompanied with free dance style. Other forms of music include the
Keroncong with its roots in Portugal, the soft Sasando music from West Timor and Degung and
Angklung from West Java, which is played with bamboo instruments.
Dance
The traditional dances depict episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata from India.
Traditional Javanese and Balinese tinge is also seen in the dance forms of Indonesian art and
culture. The highly stylized dances of the courts of Yogyakarta and Surakarta are some of the
popular variations. Mythological events of Indonesia are also depicted.

Drama and Theatre

The Javanese and Balinese shadow puppet theatre shows ‘wayang kulit’ displaying several
mythological events. A traditional folk theatre, Randai of the Minangkabau people of West
Sumatra, is performed during ceremonies and festivals. Music, singing, dance, drama and the
silat martial art are all incorporated together and are based on the stories of the legend.
Cuisine
Indonesians distinctive cuisine has been derived from centuries with the influence of the
Chinese, European, Middle Eastern and the Indians. The staple food of most Indonesian dishes is
rice served with meat and vegetables. Flavors of Vietnamese and Thai food can also be got from
the cuisine of Indonesia. Spices, notably chili, and coconut milk are fundamental ingredients in
most of the dishes, especially fish and chicken.

Material Art
The arts of Indonesia are many, especially Indonesian paintings which are unique works of art.
The intricate and expressive Balinese paintings are quite famous and often express natural scenes
and themes from the traditional dances. A long-standing tradition of sculpture can also be seen in
the art and culture of Indonesia, some dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages. Indonesia’s art
and culture is also famous for their unique batik, ikat and songket cloth which is even popular
today.