Culture of Indonesia is the product of the interaction between original indigenous customs and multiple foreign influences. Being the center of the trading routes between the Far East and the Middle East, it has been strongly influenced by a multitude of religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Islam. The result has been the birth of a complex cultural mixture very different from the original cultures. The Culture of Indonesia thus has a distinct identity of its own.
The culture of Indonesia is manifested in its music, dance, drama, painting and literature.
Music- Indonesia has several forms of music. Dangdut is a very popular style of music. It is usually accompanied by free dance style. Kroncong is a musical genre that uses guitars and ukuleles as the main musical instruments. This genre had its roots in Portugal. It was introduced by Portuguese traders in the fifteenth century.
The Sasando music from the province of East Nusa Tenggara in West Timor is soft and entirely different. The instrument used is made from a split leaf of the Lontar palm. Degung and Angklung are popular music style in West Java.
Dance- The traditional dances depicting episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata from India have similarity ranging through Thailand all the way to Bali. The court dances of Indonesia are performed internationally. But the most popular forms of dance art can largely be discovered locally. Saman dance from Aceh in North Sumatra is very popular and is often performed on TV.
Drama- The most popular form of drama in Indonesia is the Javanese and Balinese shadow puppet theatre. The shows display several mythological events. Randai is a folk theatre tradition of the Minangkabau. People of West Sumatra use this drama in traditional ceremonies and festivals.
Paintings- Popular paintings include the Balinese paintings, which expresses natural scenes and themes as well as traditional dances. Calligraphy, mostly based on the Quran, is often used as decoration.
Literature- Pramoedya Ananta Toer was the country's most internationally celebrated author. He won the Magsaysay Award and was even considered for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Other important figures include the late Chairil Anwar, a poet and freedom fighter. Poetry is popularly known as pantun. It is liked by Indonesians in general and the Malays in particular.
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