Indonesia’s angklung concert captivates international audience in Riyadh

The Embassy of Indonesia in Riyadh hosted “The Magic of Angklung” concert on Friday at the Cultural Palace in the Diplomatic Quarter.

The event featured a mesmerizing performance by the Muhibah Angklung team from Bandung, Indonesia, attracting more than 600 spectators from various countries including Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Syria, Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal.

The angklung, which is a traditional Indonesian musical instrument made from bamboo, was recognized by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2010 as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.

To help celebrate Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day, the Muhibah Angklung team delivered an emotional performance, playing iconic songs like “We Are the World.” The audience’s swaying hands and tears reflected the unity and peace evoked by the music.

Sugiri Suparwan, the deputy Indonesian ambassador in Riyadh, told Arab News: “It was a pleasure to have you at today’s cultural event.

“We call it angklung, (which has been) recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage since 2010.

“We are proud to share it with the world and will perform at Jeddah Season as well.

“We bring the best piece of Indonesia to Riyadh. There is so much more to experience and enjoy in Indonesia, and we hope to welcome you there soon.”

The event also served to promote Indonesian culture and tourism. After the angklung performance, the audience enjoyed traditional Indonesian culinary delights like cendol, onde-onde, and pastel, which were warmly received.

Audience members like Saudi residents Abdulaziz and Noura were captivated by the performance.

Abdulaziz said: “I will travel to Indonesia to see more of this beautiful country.” Noura praised the team’s harmonious execution of their works.

The Muhibah Angklung team’s performance in Riyadh formed part of their cultural tour across various countries, including European nations and the UAE.

Following Riyadh, they plan to continue to Jeddah, promoting angklung and spreading messages of peace and togetherness through music.

Maulana M. Syuhada, the team leader of Muhibah Angklung, told of his pride in being part of the Independence Day celebration in Riyadh and introducing angklung to the world. “We hope to continue inspiring and elevating Indonesia’s name,” he said.