TEMPO.CO, Riyadh - Around 300 people, mostly Saudi Arabians, gathered at the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh yesterday to attend a diplomatic cultural event. The event entitled Indonesia Bamboo Harmony featured two of Indonesia’s traditional musical instrument; angklung and thilung.
According to the Indonesian Ambassador for Saudi Arabia Agus Maftuh Abegebriel, the event performed by the Saung Angklung Udjo Bandung and Thilung Yogyakarta was to answer Saudi Arabia’s enthusiasm towards cultural entertainment events.
Read: Saudi Reopens First Cinema in Decades
and: At Harmony Day Australia, Angklung Group Plays Amazing Grace
Furthermore, Agus Maftuh said that local people, in general, are quite familiar with Indonesia for its Muslim majority and the ever-increasing hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
“Apart from our workforce, Indonesia is also known for its internationally acclaimed arts,” said Agus. “After angklung and thilung, we will follow it up by exhibiting other Indonesian art and culture to the Saudi Arabian public,” he continued.
The attendees' enthusiasm of the event could be seen by the interaction of the Saudi Arabian people who attempted to play the angklung during the event. Angklung was officially recognized as a cultural heritage by the UNESCO in a meeting in Kenya in November 2010.
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