Jokowi to Hold Wayang ft. Didi Kempot to Celebrate HUT RI
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1 August 2019 19:10 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Prior to his second term of office as the President, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will hold a wayang kulit show or shadow puppet in front of Merdeka Presidential Palace, Jakarta on Friday night, August 2.
The legend master puppeteer Ki Manteb Sudarsono will lead the show among other entertainers including Didi Kempot who is renowned as the Godfather of Broken Heart.
According to a member of Presidential Expert Staff for Communication, Sukardi Rinakit, the all-night show is a series of events to celebrate the Indonesian 74th Anniversary.
The event kicked off Thursday morning as the President made a draw using canting (special batik pen) on the 74-meter fabric in MRT Hotel Indonesia Station. Then, it will be Doa Kebangsaan (Nation Prayer) in the palace in the evening.
“Wayang and other show will be held tomorrow. Yes, this is a series of a national event in the Independence Month,” Sukardi said.
Since the inauguration in 2014, this is the first time President Jokowi establishes a wayang show in State Palace. A similar event to commemorate the country’s independence day had been held during the era of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2009.
On December 17, 2018, the President declared November 7 as the national day of wayang.
As advertised in the event poster, the wayang show will also feature Butet Kartaredjasa, Cak Lontong, Edo Kondologit, Soimah, Kirun, Den Bagus Ngarso, and Endah Laras.
AHMAD FAIZ
