Latest news with #buskers
The Australian
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Australian
Puppet ban in Indonesian capital threatens buskers
In the sweltering streets of Jakarta, buskers carry towering, hollow puppets and pass around a bucket for donations. Now, they fear becoming outlaws. City authorities say they will crack down on use of the sacred ondel-ondel puppets, which can stand as tall as a truck, and they are drafting legislation to remove what they view as a street nuisance. Performances featuring the puppets -- originally used by Jakarta's Betawi people to ward off evil spirits -- will be allowed only at set events. The ban could leave many ondel-ondel buskers in Jakarta without a job. "I am confused and anxious. I fear getting raided or even arrested. But what can I do? I need money to eat," Adi Sutisna, a 26-year-old Jakarta native who works as an ondel-ondel busker, told AFP. Adi, who only graduated from elementary school, has been working as an ondel-ondel busker for seven years, earning $7 on a good day to provide for his wife and five-year-old daughter. Ondel-ondel is the pride of the native Jakarta tribe, the Betawi people. Traditional performances were accompanied by instruments for festive and celebratory events, including weddings, circumcisions, and welcome ceremonies for honourable guests. Cyril Raoul Hakim, spokesman for Jakarta governor Pramono Anung, told AFP the ban was still being drafted with "the preservation of Betawi culture" in mind and it would be put to legislators soon. "We hope it will be passed not too long from now," he said. - 'Very hot inside' - Over time, ondel-ondel have been increasingly used by buskers who sway the puppets to music from loudspeakers, seeking money on the roadside, at traffic lights, and in the alleyways of Jakarta's densely populated neighbourhoods. The city administration has long wanted to ban ondel-ondel busking, arguing that the practice sullies the dignity of the cultural icon. Bureaucrats believe roadside busking undermines the puppets' cultural significance. But many Jakartans rely on the entertainment to bring in much-needed cash. According to government data, the number of people living below the poverty line in metropolitan Jakarta -- a megalopolis of 11 million people -- was up from 362,000 in 2019 to 449,000 as of September 2024. The Central Statistics Bureau says the poverty line in Indonesia in 2025 is just over one dollar a day. "The ondel-ondel is heavy; it is very hot inside," said Adi. "But I do it anyway because if I don't, my wife and my kid won't be able to eat." - 'Bothers my soul' - The planned ban has left authentic ondel-ondel performers and makers torn about the preservation of their culture and the plight of the buskers. Performers such as Fadillah Akbar believe the cultural symbol must be revered, and should not be used to beg for money. "The problem is that they beg on the street -- that's a disturbance, and it bothers my soul," the 33-year-old ondel-ondel artist said. He believes ondel-ondel must come in pairs, a woman and a man, and be accompanied by traditional live music instead of a recorded song playing on loudspeakers. "Of course, I feel bad for the buskers, especially since I know many of them, but it is a cultural icon whose dignity must be upheld," he said. The head of Jakarta's public order agency, Satriadi Gunawan, said ondel-ondel busking disturbed road users with loudspeakers and requests for money. "In Betawi culture, upholding ondel-ondel's dignity is important, and now it is often used to beg for money," he said. But some historians disagree, saying limiting the puppet presence on Jakarta's streets could hurt efforts to keep the dwindling tradition alive. "Banning ondel-ondel busking in the name of culture signifies their lack of understanding for tradition," said Jakarta-based historian JJ Rizal. "It proves that not only does the city government not understand culture, but it also endangers the preservation of art." dsa/jfx/djw/fox
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Puppet ban in Indonesian capital threatens buskers
In the sweltering streets of Jakarta, buskers carry towering, hollow puppets and pass around a bucket for donations. Now, they fear becoming outlaws. City authorities say they will crack down on use of the sacred ondel-ondel puppets, which can stand as tall as a truck, and they are drafting legislation to remove what they view as a street nuisance. Performances featuring the puppets -- originally used by Jakarta's Betawi people to ward off evil spirits -- will be allowed only at set events. The ban could leave many ondel-ondel buskers in Jakarta without a job. "I am confused and anxious. I fear getting raided or even arrested. But what can I do? I need money to eat," Adi Sutisna, a 26-year-old Jakarta native who works as an ondel-ondel busker, told AFP. Adi, who only graduated from elementary school, has been working as an ondel-ondel busker for seven years, earning $7 on a good day to provide for his wife and five-year-old daughter. Ondel-ondel is the pride of the native Jakarta tribe, the Betawi people. Traditional performances were accompanied by instruments for festive and celebratory events, including weddings, circumcisions, and welcome ceremonies for honourable guests. Cyril Raoul Hakim, spokesman for Jakarta governor Pramono Anung, told AFP the ban was still being drafted with "the preservation of Betawi culture" in mind and it would be put to legislators soon. "We hope it will be passed not too long from now," he said. - 'Very hot inside' - Over time, ondel-ondel have been increasingly used by buskers who sway the puppets to music from loudspeakers, seeking money on the roadside, at traffic lights, and in the alleyways of Jakarta's densely populated neighbourhoods. The city administration has long wanted to ban ondel-ondel busking, arguing that the practice sullies the dignity of the cultural icon. Bureaucrats believe roadside busking undermines the puppets' cultural significance. But many Jakartans rely on the entertainment to bring in much-needed cash. According to government data, the number of people living below the poverty line in metropolitan Jakarta -- a megalopolis of 11 million people -- was up from 362,000 in 2019 to 449,000 as of September 2024. The Central Statistics Bureau says the poverty line in Indonesia in 2025 is just over one dollar a day. "The ondel-ondel is heavy; it is very hot inside," said Adi. "But I do it anyway because if I don't, my wife and my kid won't be able to eat." - 'Bothers my soul' - The planned ban has left authentic ondel-ondel performers and makers torn about the preservation of their culture and the plight of the buskers. Performers such as Fadillah Akbar believe the cultural symbol must be revered, and should not be used to beg for money. "The problem is that they beg on the street -- that's a disturbance, and it bothers my soul," the 33-year-old ondel-ondel artist said. He believes ondel-ondel must come in pairs, a woman and a man, and be accompanied by traditional live music instead of a recorded song playing on loudspeakers. "Of course, I feel bad for the buskers, especially since I know many of them, but it is a cultural icon whose dignity must be upheld," he said. The head of Jakarta's public order agency, Satriadi Gunawan, said ondel-ondel busking disturbed road users with loudspeakers and requests for money. "In Betawi culture, upholding ondel-ondel's dignity is important, and now it is often used to beg for money," he said. But some historians disagree, saying limiting the puppet presence on Jakarta's streets could hurt efforts to keep the dwindling tradition alive. "Banning ondel-ondel busking in the name of culture signifies their lack of understanding for tradition," said Jakarta-based historian JJ Rizal.
France 24
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- France 24
Puppet ban in Indonesian capital threatens buskers
City authorities say they will crack down on use of the sacred ondel-ondel puppets, which can stand as tall as a truck, and they are drafting legislation to remove what they view as a street nuisance. Performances featuring the puppets -- originally used by Jakarta's Betawi people to ward off evil spirits -- will be allowed only at set events. The ban could leave many ondel-ondel buskers in Jakarta without a job. "I am confused and anxious. I fear getting raided or even arrested. But what can I do? I need money to eat," Adi Sutisna, a 26-year-old Jakarta native who works as an ondel-ondel busker, told AFP. Adi, who only graduated from elementary school, has been working as an ondel-ondel busker for seven years, earning $7 on a good day to provide for his wife and five-year-old daughter. Ondel-ondel is the pride of the native Jakarta tribe, the Betawi people. Traditional performances were accompanied by instruments for festive and celebratory events, including weddings, circumcisions, and welcome ceremonies for honourable guests. Cyril Raoul Hakim, spokesman for Jakarta governor Pramono Anung, told AFP the ban was still being drafted with "the preservation of Betawi culture" in mind and it would be put to legislators soon. "We hope it will be passed not too long from now," he said. 'Very hot inside' Over time, ondel-ondel have been increasingly used by buskers who sway the puppets to music from loudspeakers, seeking money on the roadside, at traffic lights, and in the alleyways of Jakarta's densely populated neighbourhoods. The city administration has long wanted to ban ondel-ondel busking, arguing that the practice sullies the dignity of the cultural icon. Bureaucrats believe roadside busking undermines the puppets' cultural significance. But many Jakartans rely on the entertainment to bring in much-needed cash. According to government data, the number of people living below the poverty line in metropolitan Jakarta -- a megalopolis of 11 million people -- was up from 362,000 in 2019 to 449,000 as of September 2024. The Central Statistics Bureau says the poverty line in Indonesia in 2025 is just over one dollar a day. "The ondel-ondel is heavy; it is very hot inside," said Adi. "But I do it anyway because if I don't, my wife and my kid won't be able to eat." 'Bothers my soul' The planned ban has left authentic ondel-ondel performers and makers torn about the preservation of their culture and the plight of the buskers. Performers such as Fadillah Akbar believe the cultural symbol must be revered, and should not be used to beg for money. "The problem is that they beg on the street -- that's a disturbance, and it bothers my soul," the 33-year-old ondel-ondel artist said. He believes ondel-ondel must come in pairs, a woman and a man, and be accompanied by traditional live music instead of a recorded song playing on loudspeakers. "Of course, I feel bad for the buskers, especially since I know many of them, but it is a cultural icon whose dignity must be upheld," he said. The head of Jakarta's public order agency, Satriadi Gunawan, said ondel-ondel busking disturbed road users with loudspeakers and requests for money. "In Betawi culture, upholding ondel-ondel's dignity is important, and now it is often used to beg for money," he said. But some historians disagree, saying limiting the puppet presence on Jakarta's streets could hurt efforts to keep the dwindling tradition alive. "Banning ondel-ondel busking in the name of culture signifies their lack of understanding for tradition," said Jakarta-based historian JJ Rizal.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Puppet ban in Indonesian capital threatens buskers
In the sweltering streets of Jakarta, buskers carry towering, hollow puppets and pass around a bucket for donations. Now, they fear becoming outlaws. City authorities say they will crack down on use of the sacred ondel-ondel puppets, which can stand as tall as a truck, and they are drafting legislation to remove what they view as a street nuisance. Performances featuring the puppets -- originally used by Jakarta's Betawi people to ward off evil spirits -- will be allowed only at set events. The ban could leave many ondel-ondel buskers in Jakarta without a job. "I am confused and anxious. I fear getting raided or even arrested. But what can I do? I need money to eat," Adi Sutisna, a 26-year-old Jakarta native who works as an ondel-ondel busker, told AFP. Adi, who only graduated from elementary school, has been working as an ondel-ondel busker for seven years, earning $7 on a good day to provide for his wife and five-year-old daughter. Ondel-ondel is the pride of the native Jakarta tribe, the Betawi people. Traditional performances were accompanied by instruments for festive and celebratory events, including weddings, circumcisions, and welcome ceremonies for honourable guests. Cyril Raoul Hakim, spokesman for Jakarta governor Pramono Anung, told AFP the ban was still being drafted with "the preservation of Betawi culture" in mind and it would be put to legislators soon. "We hope it will be passed not too long from now," he said. - 'Very hot inside' - Over time, ondel-ondel have been increasingly used by buskers who sway the puppets to music from loudspeakers, seeking money on the roadside, at traffic lights, and in the alleyways of Jakarta's densely populated neighbourhoods. The city administration has long wanted to ban ondel-ondel busking, arguing that the practice sullies the dignity of the cultural icon. Bureaucrats believe roadside busking undermines the puppets' cultural significance. But many Jakartans rely on the entertainment to bring in much-needed cash. According to government data, the number of people living below the poverty line in metropolitan Jakarta -- a megalopolis of 11 million people -- was up from 362,000 in 2019 to 449,000 as of September 2024. The Central Statistics Bureau says the poverty line in Indonesia in 2025 is just over one dollar a day. "The ondel-ondel is heavy; it is very hot inside," said Adi. "But I do it anyway because if I don't, my wife and my kid won't be able to eat." - 'Bothers my soul' - The planned ban has left authentic ondel-ondel performers and makers torn about the preservation of their culture and the plight of the buskers. Performers such as Fadillah Akbar believe the cultural symbol must be revered, and should not be used to beg for money. "The problem is that they beg on the street -- that's a disturbance, and it bothers my soul," the 33-year-old ondel-ondel artist said. He believes ondel-ondel must come in pairs, a woman and a man, and be accompanied by traditional live music instead of a recorded song playing on loudspeakers. "Of course, I feel bad for the buskers, especially since I know many of them, but it is a cultural icon whose dignity must be upheld," he said. The head of Jakarta's public order agency, Satriadi Gunawan, said ondel-ondel busking disturbed road users with loudspeakers and requests for money. "In Betawi culture, upholding ondel-ondel's dignity is important, and now it is often used to beg for money," he said. But some historians disagree, saying limiting the puppet presence on Jakarta's streets could hurt efforts to keep the dwindling tradition alive. "Banning ondel-ondel busking in the name of culture signifies their lack of understanding for tradition," said Jakarta-based historian JJ Rizal. "It proves that not only does the city government not understand culture, but it also endangers the preservation of art." dsa/jfx/djw/fox
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Buskers call for compromise in Birmingham centre clampdown plan
Some buskers and music groups have criticised plans to crack down on "excessive noise levels" in Birmingham city centre. Plans first announced in April for a Public Space Protection Order would restrict noise from busking, street entertaining, street preaching and public speaking in areas including New Street and High unnamed busker told a city council consultation it would make Birmingham the country's "the least friendly city" for street performance and called for compromise. The plans, which have been recommended for approval at a cabinet meeting on 22 July, follow a rise in noise complaints. The order would also cover Victoria Square, Temple Street, Cannon Street, Needless Alley and part of Waterloo would ban musical instruments and amplification equipment, along with any associated noise such as from entertaining or preaching. However, the recommendation said council officers should also consider the feasibility of a permit scheme for city-centre busking. The proposals came amid concerns noise levels were impacting businesses, residents trying to relax at home and landlords trying to let among people responding to the consultation, one busker suggested a number of "significant compromises" could be reached, such as a restriction on amplification. "Without some sort of compromise with the busking community, Birmingham will become the least friendly city in the country (and arguably in Europe) for street performance," the musician said. Another busker suggested: "Rather than restricting all performers - many of whom are professional and committed to enhancing the city's street culture - I propose that Birmingham Council consider adopting a model similar to that of Busk in London with respect to basic licensing."Such a scheme would involve an audition process and code of conduct, they explained. Stephen Brown, the Musicians' Union Midlands regional organiser, previously claimed the council was "using a sledgehammer to crack a nut".He called for a more "nuanced approach" such as permitting day time busking through a "better management scheme of noise control and agreed pitches". A council report revealed the consultation provoked a "varied response" to the proposed PSPO, but when the authority carried out further analysis to find responders who live or work in the area, 53%, or 92 people, agreed the order was the right way forward. The report added it had to also consider feedback from businesses and organisations. Two PSPOs are already in force in residential parts of the city centre, which are due to expire in August, but the council acknowledged there had been an increasing number of complaints in surrounding areas. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
