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Express Tribune
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Who is Rayyan Arkan Dikha? 11-year-old Indonesian boat dancer goes viral for 'aura farming'
The viral 'aura farming' boat dance spreading across social media features 11-year-old Rayyan Arkan Dikha from Indonesia. Captured during the traditional Pacu Jalur race in Kuantan Singingi, the video shows Rayyan dancing at the bow of a raceboat while his team rows behind him. 'I came up with the dance myself,' Rayyan said in an interview with BBC Indonesia. 'It was just spontaneous.' Rayyan serves as the 'tukang tari' — a traditional role in the Pacu Jalur event — where a dancer stands at the front of the boat to energise the rowing crew. Though the performance appears smooth, the position comes with significant risks. 'The main concern is that he might fall,' said Rayyan's mother, Rani Ridawati. 'Sometimes if he falls accidentally or suddenly, I worry he might get hit by the paddles.' She added that Rayyan is a confident swimmer and that safety measures are in place during the event, including a nearby rescue team. The upcoming Pacu Jalur race, scheduled for 20–24 August, is expected to attract larger audiences due to the attention Rayyan's performance has brought. The festival, a significant cultural tradition in the region, now finds itself spotlighted by global social media users. Celebrities have shared imitations of Rayyan's dance, adding to the video's momentum.
Mint
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Who is Rayyan Arkan Dhika? The 11-year-old impresses the internet with his boat racing dance
An 11-year-old boy from Indonesia has become an overnight sensation after a clip of his effortless dance moves went viral. The clip, featuring the boy performing on the tip of a racing boat, has taken the social media by storm. Rayyan Arkan Dikha, a Class 5 student from Kuantan Singingi Regency in Riau Province, has captured the hearts of millions and is now being hailed as the 'ultimate aura farmer.' The video that sparked his fame wasn't just a random moment of fun - it was part of a long-standing cultural tradition. Rayyan was filmed last August during the annual Pacu Jalur boat race, a popular and deeply rooted event in Indonesia that resembles Kerala's Vallam Kali. During this race, each canoe-like boat features a young dancer, known as 'Tukang Tari', standing at the front. Their role is more than ceremonial. They energise the rowers with rhythmic movements, balance and flair. Rayyan, dressed in a traditional Teluk Belanga outfit, complete with a Malay Riau headcloth and stylish sunglasses, performed with infectious confidence. The video, initially shared on TikTok in January, quickly went viral. Rayyan, who has been performing as a Tukang Tari since the age of 9, soon became a global internet favourite. The term 'aura farming' is now being widely used to describe people with a cool, confident presence, while Rayyan has come to embody it. His moves were soon mimicked by celebrities, including NFL star Travis Kelce and American footballer Diego Luna, who recreated Rayyan's dance during a celebration. Rayyan's viral fame also caught the attention of Indonesian authorities. Culture Minister Fadli Zon acknowledged the skill required to balance and dance on a narrow boat tip. The governor of Riau went a step further, naming Rayyan a tourism ambassador for the province. 'He's inspiring local kids to embrace and preserve their traditions,' the governor said. Speaking to BBC Indonesia, Rayyan shared, 'Wow, I'm so happy. I never imagined I'd meet the governor.' On his now-famous performance, he added, 'I came up with the dance myself. It was just spontaneous.' From a village tradition to a global stage, Rayyan Arkan Dikha's aura has certainly travelled far. Who is Rayyan Arkan Dhika? Rayyan Arkan Dhika is an 11-year-old boy from Indonesia who went viral for dancing on the tip of a racing boat during a traditional festival. What is 'Aura Farming'? 'Aura farming' is a slang term used online to describe someone who appears effortlessly cool, confident, and charismatic. How did Rayyan's dance go viral? A video of Rayyan dancing during the Pacu Jalur boat race was posted on TikTok and quickly spread across social media, attracting attention from global celebrities and fans.
AFP
04-06-2025
- General
- AFP
False subtitles misrepresent Kim Jong Un speech as support for West Java governor
"Kim Jong-un speaks about West Javan Governor Dedi Mulyadi, he respects him so much," reads Indonesian-language text superimposed on a TikTok video posted on May 6, 2025. The video features photos of Dedi Mulyadi and North Korea's Kim Jong Un above a clip of Kim speaking. Subtitles on the clip, purportedly translating what Kim was saying, read: "Corruption has slowed Indonesia's development. This culture must be changed, beginning with its young generation. I fully support West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi's policy to educate Indonesian students and teenagers so they become obedient and disciplined." The text refers to a programme where students labelled "naughty" are sent to military barracks for 14 days of character education (archived link). According to a BBC Indonesia report about the programme, some psychologists and education experts have questioned its efficacy and whether it may have a detrimental impact on the teens' development. Image Screenshot of the false TikTok post, captured on June 3, 2025 The clip was also shared in similar posts elsewhere on TikTok. "What else can you say about Mr Governor? A foreign country praises him, so why do his own people in the country mock him?" reads a comment on one of the posts. Another said: "Thank you to his excellency Mr Kim Jong-un for supporting Dedi Mulyadi." The video, however, does not show Kim praising Dedi or the education programme. AFP previously debunked another claim using the same video with different subtitles to make it appear as if Kim were commenting on a local corruption case. A reverse image search on Google led to the same footage uploaded to YouTube by the North Korea Now news outlet on February 13, 2024 (archived link). The YouTube video is titled, " ". Image Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared clip (left) and the video from the North Korea Now YouTube channel (right) The clip used in the false posts starts at the YouTube video's 25:37 mark, when Kim speaks about the importance of the military in maintaining peace. "Our military must possess even stronger power, prevent war and unconditionally safeguard peace with its irresistible force. Peace is not something to beg for or negotiate," says Kim. "Let us remember once again that war is not advertised in advance. We must always maintain a state of readiness." He makes no mention of the Indonesian governor or his education policy. A transcript of Kim's speech was also included in a report in the newspaper of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, Rodong Sinmun, on February 9, 2024 (archived link). The transcript also shows Kim did not mention Dedi.
