Indonesian Masks

Indonesia is rich in art and culture, which are intertwined with religion and age-old traditions. They reflect the influences from early migrants, not to mention the Western influences of Portuguese traders and Dutch colonists. The famous dance dramas of Java and Bali are derived from Hindu mythology and often feature fragments from the Ramayana and Mahabharata Hindu epics. Highly stylized in movement and costume, dances and other performances are accompanied by a full gamelan orchestra, including xylophones, drums, gongs, string instruments, and flutes. The exotic dances of Bali and Java are world-renowned and a rewarding treat for visitors. Bamboo xylophones are used in North Sulawesi, and the bamboo instruments of West Java are well known for their unique notes. The Bataks of North Sumatra form popular singing groups to entertain visitors.

The crafts of Indonesia vary in both media and style. As a whole, the people are artistic by nature and express themselves through canvas, wood, metals, clay, and stone. The batik process of waxing and dyeing originated on Java centuries ago, and classic designs have been modified with modern trends in both pattern and technology. There are several centers of batik production on Java, including Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Pekalongan, and Cirebon.

Batik also is produced on Bali, where local designs are incorporated. Other provinces produce hand-woven cloths featuring gold and silver threads among silk and cotton tapestries.

Traditional and contemporary oil, watercolors, and pen-and-ink drawings are found throughout the country, with Bali serving as the pinnacle of these creations. Other artwork includes woodcarvings, silverwork, and engravings.

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Indonesian Kids

There are more than three hundred distinct and diverse cultures in Indonesia. Most Indonesians are of Malay or Polynesian descent, although the country’s history brought minority populations from India, China, Arabia, Persia, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, and England. There are still numerous indigenous tribes in the remote reaches of Indonesia, from Kalimantan to Papua. The most famous tribes include the Asmat and Dani people of Papua, the Dayak people of Kalimantan, and the Batak people of Sumatra. The Javanese are one of the most dominant cultures. They are known for having very long names, such as President Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono. The Balinese typically use only four first names regardless of sex – Made, Wayan, Nyoman, and Ketut, which indicate the birth order in their family. Balinese girls are distinguished from boys with the prefix “ni,” while boys use the prefix “i” if there is a need to distinguish between a boy and a girl of the same name.

Many people throughout the country are given just one name at birth, which does not include the family name. Balinese people rarely have more than four children, but when they do, they will go back to the first of the four names for children and use it again to name one of their children. As you can imagine, there are several people on the island named Made or Imade (first child and fifth child for both boys and girls).

Technorati Tags: Indonesian kids, Indonesian culture, Javanese culture