Cultural group registers bamboo instruments with UNESCO

Febriyan , The Jakarta Post , Bandung | Fri, 08/28/2009 11:10 PM

The Bandung-based cultural group Saung Angklung Udjo has registered a bamboo musical instrument known as the angklung with the world cultural body UNESCO as fears continue to mount about the theft of cultural artefacts by other countries.

The group’s operational director, Satria Yanuar Akbar, said Friday the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Office of Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare had facilitated the registration process, which took place Wednesday.

“We registered the music instrument as a genuine article of Indonesia’s intangible heritage,” Satria said.

The move comes shortly after a commercial for a Malaysian documentary on the Discovery Channel, initially thought to a Malaysian tourism ad, triggered controversy when it depicted the Balinese Pendet dance.

Satria said 13 angklung playing communities across the country had gathered in Bandung about two weeks ago to support the initiative and verify Indonesia’s claim to the music instrument.

UNESCO will verify the claim and the role of the music instrument in sustaining local culture.

“If UNESCO approves our claim, angklung will rank among other internationally recognized Indonesian cultural artefacts such as wayang golek (wooden puppet), kris and batik,” Satria said.