TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Colombian community in Indonesia celebrated their 207 years of independence from the Spanish colony with vallenato music. The music performance was presented by Colombian musician Eibar Gutierrez at the Jakarta Arts Theater on July 20.
Held by the embassy of Colombia, the concert showcased the country’s musical genre that was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. It represents the three main cultural influences in Colombia; the European, the indigenous and the African cultures.
Opening the concert, the Colombian Ambassador to Indonesia, Jose Renato Salazar, highlighted the close cooperation the two countries have in different sectors, such as in trade, tourism and combating drug-related transnational crime.
Andi Amran Sulaiman, the Minister of Agriculture, who attended the event said in his opening speech that Colombia is one of Indonesia’s strategic partner in development. “On this special day, I bring a message that Indonesia is committed to strengthening our relationship,” he said.
Gutierrez played the accordion and sang traditional vallenato music which interprets the world through stories of realism and fantasy. He will perform for the Jakarta public on July 23 at Grand Indonesia Shopping Center.
AMANDA SIDDHARTA
