While attending a national coordination meeting in Jakarta, 19 – 21 March 2024, we were treated to marawis music from a group in Jakarta, the capital of the Republic of Indonesia. This is the first time I have witnessed marawis music which is full of religious messages.
Marawis is a type of band that uses percussion as the main musical instrument. This music is a collaboration between Middle Eastern and Betawi arts, and has strong religious elements. This is reflected in the various song lyrics sung which are praise and love for the Creator.
Hm, a musical color that is suitable for the month of Ramadan.
According to Wikipedia, marawis art originates from Middle Eastern countries, especially Yemen. The name marawis is taken from the name of one of the musical instruments used in this art. Overall, this music uses a large drum called hajir.
This musical instrument has a diameter of 45 cm with a height of 60-70 cm. Then there are also marawis (small drums) with a diameter of 20 cm and a height of 19 cm, dumbuk or (jimbe) (a type of drum shaped like a cormorant, having different diameters on both sides), as well as two pieces of round wood with a diameter of ten centimeters.
Sometimes percussion is equipped with a tambourine or krecek and small diameter cymbals. Songs with a gambus or desert rhythm are sung accompanied by certain types of blows (source: Wikipedia).
In Jakarta, marawis art is often displayed at various activities such as wedding parties, commemorations of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday, or the opening of large events like the one we participated in.
Member of the Election Supervisory Board of the Republic of Indonesia, Lolly Suhenty, said that marawis art is evidence of cultural acculturation in Indonesia, which consists of various ethnic groups.
"From this art we can see the richness of the nation's culture which is born from the tolerance of every child of the nation," said Loly.[]