Betawi Culture in Jakarta

Since 1976, Directorate Internalization of Values and Cultural Diplomacy Ministry of Culture has tried to record cultures both immovable and movable heritages. As a result that there are 67,273 cultures heritage are recorded. This number includes 11,627 immovable cultural heritage, 53,538 movable cultural, and 2,108 instead of object heritage. There are still so many cultures heritages are not recorded.

From thousand cultures heritage in Indonesia, there is only one that originally Jakarta culture heritage, that is ondel – ondel tradition. Ondel – ondel is originally culture heritage from betawi. Ondel –ondel is also betawi people exhibition that often show in many events such as harvest party, welcoming guest, and also any others formal events. Ondel – ondel is a giant mannequin which high can reach of about 2,5 meters with its width about 3 feet.

In ondel – ondel tradition, there is also song that to be a special characteristic in showing ondel –ondel which is introduced by Benjamin Sueib. The lyrics of that song as follow ““Nyok kite nonton ondel-ondel, nyok kite ngarak ondel-ondel. Ondel-ondel ade anaknye anaknye nandak gel-igelan”. Itulah sepenggal lirik lagu “ Ondel-Ondel” yang terkenal dan sangat identik dengan keberadaan masyarakat Betawi”.

Although betawi culture especially ondel – ondel tradition has been popular, influence globalization can push extinct this betawi culture. The coming culture from foreign country to Indonesia also become cause extinct ondel – ondel tradition. Recently, Indonesian would rather like culture from foreign country than its own country. In this case, it can influence existence of ondel – ondel tradition that in the past became the pride of betawi people. The fondness of Indonesian to the culture of foreign culture cause Indonesian would rather attract to learn culture of foreign country than their own cultures. This course increasingly influence for regeneration of Indonesia culture especially betawi culture. Recently, there are so many teenagers learn culture from other countries such as Japan, South Korea, Europe, and even USA. There are no teenagers and even children cannot get about their own cultures.

In relationship to education, based on law of education in Indonesia suggests that the objective of national education is formula associated with quality of Indonesian man must be developed by every unit education. Therefore, the formula objective of national education become a fundamental in developing education culture and national character.

The existence of Sanggar Ondel – ondel for school is one of facilities for studying betawi culture for students. Students can study about ondel – ondel tradition and betawi culture. On the other hands, students can also study not only in the class but also direct visit to Sanggar Ondel – ondel. Students can be studied by teacher in the school and also from guide in Sanggar Ondel – ondel.

Society through the public figure and community organizations can preserve betawi culture. Sanggar Ondel – ondel can provide all related to ondel – ondel tradition and betawi culture. Almost extinction of Betawi culture cause difficult to look for a place for learning betawi culture especially ondel – ondel tradition. With Sanggar Ondel – ondel, Sanggar Ondel – ondel can be the place for learning ondel – ondel tradition.