Silat Swordsmen of Aliran Setia Hati Anoman Performs in Denmark

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Martin Sangill, a Danish citizen, and his team managed to amaze the citizens of Horsens when displaying various Setia Hati Anoman martial arts moves, Saturday June 22, 2019 at Vitus Berings Plads which is the town square of Horsens.

The pencak silat attractions are part of the "Indonesian Bazaar and Cultural Day" event organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Copenhagen in collaboration with Dini's Restaurant and Indonesian people in the Jutland region, Denmark.

"This year we are displaying pencak silat which is an Indonesian cultural heritage, but uniquely being explored by Danish citizens," said M. Ibnu Said, Indonesian Ambassador to Denmark. "This bazaar and cultural day event was also held to strengthen and enhance people-to-people contact between citizens of Indonesia and Denmark," he continued.

Not only empty-handed, Martin Sangill and his students also demonstrated their abilities using sticks and machetes. Every move that is said raises the admiration of the audience who is also busy recording the scene with their mobile phones.

"Events like this are very important for both nations. We can know each other and enrich our lives with other cultures. Like pencak silat as tangible proof, an Indonesian cultural heritage, but deepened by Danish citizens," said Peter Sinding Poulsen, Deputy of Horsens City Government.

Martin Sangill himself has studied pencak silat for more than 30 years since 1988. In 2012 he opened the first pencak silat club in Denmark and had Danish students.

Danish Silat Swordsmen of Aliran Setia Hati Anoman are seen performing in Horsens City

Besides pencak silat, there were also various Indonesian dances ranging from Alusi Au from North Sumatra, Lancang Kuning from Riau, Lenggang Nyai and Nandak from Jakarta, Jaipong from West Java, Tanduk Majeng from Madura, Weaving and Condong from Bali, Gantar from Kalimantan, to dances from Eastern Indonesia, such as Poco-poco, Maumere, Tobelo, and Sajojo.

Not only the promotion of culture, various Indonesian cuisines were also introduced to local residents. Starting from bakso (meatballs), mie ayam (chicken noodles), nasi kuning (yellow rice), rendang, Manado dishes, Balinese cuisine, Bandung kupat tahu (tofu), satay, egg martabak to mpek-mpek. In addition, a variety of Indonesian food products, such as soy sauce, Gudeg Bu Tjitro, Sambal Bu Rudi, and PT. Mayora products, like Kopiko, Bengbeng and Coffee Joy, are also in demand not only by the Indonesian people but also local residents.

Dini Banowati, an Indonesian restaurant owner in the town of Horsens, which is the only Indonesian restaurant in Denmark at the moment, said that the event was not only aimed at promoting culture and culinary, but also was a gathering place that Indonesian people were waiting for, especially those living in the Jutland.

As a kick off for the people's party on August 17, this event will also be enlivened with various traditional games, such as marble competitions for children. As for adults, they participated in clog racing competitions, put pens into bottles, and dancing with oranges accompanied by dangdut music, as well as making spring rolls. These competitions were not only attended by Indonesians, but also by local residents.

Indonesian Student Association also enlivened the event by presenting various Indonesian modern songs. This is also to introduce Danish citizens that Indonesia does not only have traditional music, such as gamelan or angklung, but also rich in various types of music, such as dangdut and modern.

The feeling of emotion enveloped when all Indonesian citizens who were present sang along the Tanah Airku and Kebyar-kebyar songs at the closing ceremony.

The city of Horsens is located on the east coast of the Jutland region, Denmark, or about 200 kilometers from the capital city of Copenhagen and has a population of 58,646 people in 2018. At present there are around 800 Indonesian citizens living in Denmark.

TEMPO.CO