First Lady Hopes Kolintang Music To Always Exist

Jakarta, May 14 (Antara) - First Lady Ani Yudhoyono has expressed her hope that Kolintang music, Indonesian traditional music heritage, could be further developed so it will always exist in Indonesia and global society. "Kolintang is an Indonesian heritage. We should keep it everlasting," Ani Yudhoyono said in State Palace here on Tuesday before members of the executive board of the United National Kolintang Society (Pinkan). She urged the Indonesian to develop and not to forget the Kolintang music so it will not be claimed by other country as their heritage and culture. Several Indonesian cultural heritages which had been claimed by other countries, included Batik linen, Pendet dance, and Rasa Sayange song. "Sometimes we are infuriated if our culture was claimed by others as theirs. We can anticipate it by our effort to perpetuate all of Indonesian cultural heritages," she said. Meanwhile, Anie Rachmat Sudibjo, the general chairperson of Pinkan, which was established in 2011, said her organization is still on the way to promote Kolintang among Indonesian and global society. For that purpose, Pinkan organized the Kolintang seminar and contest for the students and public in Minahasa, North Sulawesi Province, as the place birth of Kolintang. Anie Rachmat Sudibjo said Pinkan has been promoting Kolintang in all over Indonesia. On the occasion, First Lady also received the visit of Nandayu Kolintang music group, the winner of First Lady Ani Yudhoyono Kolintang Cup. Some official`s wives also attended like Okeu Hatta Rajasa, Tresna Jerowacik and Mrs Purnomo Yusgiantoro.