TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of journalists, litterateurs, and artists are cooperating with Sesela Cultural Village to establish first Sasak Puppeteer School in Sasak Village, West Lombok. The school is built in an attempt to preserve Lombok traditional arts.

“So that we don’t lose track of our anchestor’s culture and traditions,” said Abdul Latif Apriaman, an activist from a culture NGO Idea and Action (IDEAKSI) on Saturday, may 30.

Sasak puppet show’s existence is at stake because there was no school teaching the traditional art. Data taken from West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Culture and Tourism Agency shows that there are only 13 active Sasak puppeteers left in NTB.

Therefore, the puppeteer school in Sesela village is expected to produce new generations of Sasak puppeteer, as well as create young puppeteers with high sensitivity towards social, culture and environment issues.

“Of course, the puppeteers will present fresh, new age-and tech-friendly puppet shows,” Latif said.

The history of Sasak puppet begun when Islam teaching entered Lombok for the first time, around 16th century. The puppet art introduce better lifedata-style and civilizations to local people.

SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID