Musicians' Love for Cianjur

IVAN DWI KURNIA PUTRA

Musicians performed at the Guitarist for the Nation event: Cianjur Earthquake Donation at Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Jakarta, Wednesday (7/12/2022). A total of 59 musicians presented collaborative music on a charity concert stage for the Cianjur earthquake victims voluntarily.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Dozens of musicians, poets and artists showed their sorrow and sympathy for the survivors of the Cianjur earthquake through the Guitarist for the Nation concert, which was held until midnight at Bentara Budaya Jakarta on Wednesday night (7/12/2022).

Guitarist Ezra Simanjuntak said that the concert was held not only to collect donations for the survivors of the Cianjur earthquake, but also to promote public awareness to care for and empathize with fellow human beings. "The message is clear, namely to show concern for your countrymen," said Ezra, who also performed at the night.

Apart from Ezra, the musicians who performed included Dewa Budjana, Ian Antono, Denny Chasmala, Edi Kemput, Endah Widiastuti, Andre Dinuth, Karis, Zendhy, Edwin, Ridho Hafiedz, Gugun, Ipang Lazuardi, Boris, Jubing Kristianto, Tohpati, Gerald Situmorang, Kongko, Andy /rif, John Paul Ivan, Aditya Bayu, Josephine, Tompi, Andra Ramadhan, Kikan, Sheryl Sheinafia, Iga Massardi, Baim, Candil, Kaka, D’Masiv, Wanda Omar, Franky Sadikin, Ronny, Rayyi Kurniawan, Yongky Vincent, Aryo Wicaksono and Yandi Andaputra.

Meanwhile, the poets and artists who participated in this event were “poetry president” Sutardji Calzoum Bachri, Hasan Aspa- hani, and several artists including Ilham Khoiri, Ika W Burhan, Diana Dee Mohy and Gihon Nugrahadi. The event was hosted by Olga Lidya and Cynthia Rompas.

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The concert opened with a touching poetry reading by Sutardji, including "Gempa Kata" (Quake Word) and ”Sajak Tanah Air” (Poems of the Country). Furthermore, the musicians performed alternately with dozens of formations. Even though the preparation to perform together only took a few days, the musicians still appeared well and energetic.

Hundreds of enthusiastic spectators watched the concert which lasted about four hours. When Candil sang his flagship song, "Rocker Juga Manusia” (Rockers Are Also Humans), the crowd joined in and shouted boisterously. Likewise when Cokelat sang "Bendera” (Flag).

In another part, Kaka sang the song "Solidaritas" (Soladirity) whose lyrics are contextual with various disasters that often strike Indonesia. Mengapa harus tunggu bencana/ Kita rela sisihkan harta untuk sesama (Why should we wait for disaster/ We are willing to set aside wealth for others).

The audience not only enjoyed the musicians' performances, but also donated money through charity boxes or through the QRIS application. Among the spectators were Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, Amnesty International executive director Usman Hamid, House of Representatives member Taufik Basari and activist Bivitri Susanti.

In this charity concert, books of poetry, paintings and guitars were auctioned, signed by a number of musicians. Some of the items being auctioned were purchased by entrepreneurs. Donations were also obtained from tempe-making workshops.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI (RAD)

Musicians pose together on stage in a charity concert entitled Guitarist for the Nation: Cianjur Earthquake Donation, at Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Wednesday (7/12/2022)

The director of Corporate Communication of Kompas Gramedia, Glory Oyong, announced that Kompas Gramedia donated Rp 1 billion (US$64,073) in cash for Cianjur earthquake survivors.

The shallow Cianjur earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.6, occurred on November 21. As of Wednesday night, at least 334 people died as a result of the earthquake. The earthquake also caused 593 people to be seriously injured; around 50,000 houses were damaged and 114,683 residents were displaced.

This disaster fostered solidarity in various layers of society. They sent various forms of assistance, ranging from funds, food to prayers, to show sympathy and love for the survivors of the Cianjur earthquake.

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Last Friday, entrepreneurs at the Kompas100 CEO Forum, which took place at the State Palace, Central Jakarta, donated Rp 2.7 billion.

All funds collected, both from Guitarist for the Country, Kompas100 CEO Forum and from the Kompas Humanitarian Fund Wallet, will be donated to the victims of the Cianjur disaster through the Kompas Humanitarian Fund Foundation (DKK). As of Wednesday night, the total donations reached Rp 4.6 billion.

The head of the DKK Foundation, Tomy Trinugroho, said that the DKK was still providing assistance to public kitchens for survivors of the Cianjur earthquake. Basic-needs assistance will be given to survivors who return home. Apart from that, the DKK Foundation also plans to build physical facilities, such as schools, for the survivors of the Cianjur disaster.

Love language

The Guitarist Concert for the Country, held by musicians in collaboration of BBJ, Kompas daily and the DKK Foundation that night was the fourth edition. The charity concert initiated by Dewa Budjana, Tohpati and the late Baron at BBJ was first held in 2010 to help earthquake victims in Mentawai and the eruption of Mount Merapi.

The guitarists held similar concerts again in 2014 and 2018 to help survivors of landslides, floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis in several areas.

"We [the musicians] can only contribute our voices," said Ian Antono. For Ian, art can, in many ways, become the forefront of humanitarian movements.

We [the musicians] can only contribute our voices.

Meanwhile, Jubing said that the musicians were involved since the first Guitarist for Country concert was held. “It means that there is the same attention and concern for humanitarian issues. Surprisingly, they were not paid."

Bentara Budaya curator, Putu Fajar Arcana, is of the opinion that the Guitarist for the Nation concert shows that art has a social function in society, namely to raise aid. Art, which so far has been regarded as an abstract concept by society, can also make a concrete contribution to the public. "Art is the most humane language, the most gentle, and can be used to convey grief and sympathy for the victims of the Cianjur earthquake," said Putu.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi