Indonesian Embassy celebrates ties with cultural show

On Wednesday evening the Indonesian Embassy celebrated a triple occasion at the Centro Cultural Borges – the 79th anniversary of Indonesian independence, the 68th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Argentina and the recent formation of a parliamentary friendship group between the two countries.

Following a reception starring some tasty satays, the show began in the Sala Piazzolla – preceded by both national anthems and some brief speeches. Deputy Foreign Minister Leopoldo Sahores highlighted a bilateral trade of US$1.3 billion between two complementary economies and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) candidacy of both nations; Indonesian Ambassador Sulaiman Syarif underlined the G20 membership of the two countries with the 17,000-island archipelago tipped to be the world’s fifth-largest economy by mid-century; parliamentarians Karina Bachey (PRO-San Luis) and Achmad Hafisz Tohir presented their friendship group.

Then a complete contrast as the men in suits (apart from Bachey) were replaced on the stage by exotic colours and sounds. The cultural show began with the traditional Saman dance from the island of Aceh – unique because the dancers remain kneeling throughout with their arms and hands doing most of the work. Then Indonesia’s trademark gamelan music from the island of Bali fusing gongs, drums and xylophones – atonal and an acquired taste. This was followed by the Tari Seblang Gandrung, a solo ritual harvest dance. 

The show climaxed with the Embassy wives and expat Indonesian women playing Argentine melodies on the angklung (a bamboo harp). A novel cultural experience indeed.