The Golden Experience Of Java Enterprise, November 2008

In October 2008 Emha Ainun Nadjib and Kiai Kanjeng toured The Netherlands. Following is a text by tour organiser Heri Sasmito of Java Enterprises.

On my way to a music rehearsal somewhere in the Business area in Amsterdam, I received a phone call from a Utrecht number. Obviously an unknown number, otherwise it would have appeared with the name on my cell phone. We greeted each other and started the conversation in Dutch, until he caught me in the act that I was suffering trying to speak Dutch. Before I embarrass myself too far, I immediately offered to speak English to build a better understanding in the conversation. What a surprise that he actually said, “Bahasa Indonesia juga boleh lho kalau lebih gampang…” (“Indonesian is also okay if it makes it easier…”) What??!! This “Bule” (“white person”) spoke Indonesian with Javanese accent, while I am suffering to speak his language…

Furthermore, the conversation goes that he with a group of friends from PCN (Protestant Church in the Netherlands) has an idea of inviting Emha Ainun Nadjib to The Netherlands, and he asked whether or not I knew this person. That was my first conversation with Mr. Aart Verburg (Principal of the Hendrik Kraemer Institute) of the PCN. My immediate answer was that indeed I had heard about Emha (Cak Nun) but I did not know him in person. I did not mention that in some artistic way, his point of view fits very well with my journey of life.

Later on he mentioned that he had read an article in a Dutch National Newspaper about an event that I recently organized with JAVA ENTERPRISE, called “Indonesia Underground” providing a platform at a well-known venue in Amsterdam for talents in The Netherlands with Indonesian background that were not being recognized, in order for them to expose them self and come out from underground.

At that time, I asked Aart to meet up the week after to have a better discussion about the idea and the concept. So I finally went to his office in Utrecht, where he was already waiting together with a lady, Mrs. Nelleke de Jong – van den Berg (from the Centre for Reflection of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands). We had a nice conversation, sharing some ideas, and at the end of the meeting, I expressed my interest to join the team, although I made it clear to them that Java Enterprise would focus more on the cultural aspect. I did not mention that I was very happy, proud, and honored, not only because I was being approached, but more because of the fact that Protestant Church in the Netherlands was asking an Indonesian Moslem Poet/Activist with his group, to show another perspective of ISLAM in society. This is a great respect to the Indonesian nation from western society, and to me it was not just a regular concert that I normally organize. It is more sublime, and it goes hand in hand with the objective of Java Enterprise that has been adapted from the motto of Indonesia, “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (Unity through diversity).

Days after days become weeks and months, time was ticking away while it was not quite certain in all aspects whether or not this project would be realized. Meanwhile, Cak Nun & Kiai Kanjeng through their Progress management was very supportive and let us know that they were as excited as we (the organizers) were, to realize the planning. That has given us the strength to speculate and take the risk to decide that we would go further with the planning of the project.

At the same time, I was in contact with Mr. Ian Betts, Mr. Muzakky (Management Progress, Yogyakarta) as well as Mr. Yoyok Prasetyo (Sound Engineer Kiai Kanjeng) about the technical planning prior to their arrival in The Netherlands. It was a little frightening to see Kiai Kanjeng’s technical rider at first. Going to different venues, one by one, it was quite challenging to convince the venue about Kiai Kanjeng’s technical specification. Their hesitation was based on numerous arguments, least of which was: the number of members in the group is too large for the stage, technical rider looks like a gigantic concert, some even suggested to hire a football stadium to hold the concert. However, later on, after some adjustment had been made by Kiai Kanjeng, and some pictures had been sent, as well as the sample of the music, it was then a lot smoother to describe the planning with a better impression.

The day the group arrived at Schiphol Airport, there were quite many Indonesian faces at the airport that created a little confusion to recognize the members of the group, as I only know the look of Cak Nun & Mbak Novia Kolopaking (Cak Nun’s wife). Suddenly, I saw a big man with long hair coming out and for some reason I had an immediate feeling that he must be one of the member of the group, and I approached him and introduced myself to him. That happened to be Mr. Setyadji Dewanta (Mas Jijid), the drummer of the group. Shortly after, more of them came out with boxes of instruments and luggage. My first impression was indeed like what I mentioned earlier. I cannot tell the difference between Kiai Kanjeng and regular passengers from Indonesia, no sign of glamorous or arrogance at all coming from the group. That made it easier and such a pleasure for me to approach them, and talk to every single one of them with no boundaries and distance at all.

We finally left the airport with a big touring bus that took us to the Indonesian Embassy’s guest house in Wassenaar, where they would stay temporarily. It took us some time to get there, due to traffic difficulties that guided the bus even to very small and narrow villages.

Jetlag?? Rest?? Sleep?? NO!! The first thing they needed the minutes they arrived at the guest house is….Kretek Cigarettes!!! (Indonesian clove cigarettes). During this kretek break, I was told an incredible story about their traveling experience. Due to a very high season during the Iedul Fitri celebration after the Ramadhan month, it was practically impossible to book a flight for a group of 22 people from Yogyakarta to Jakarta, and traveling with a bus was also not an option, due to major traffic congestion especially from and to Jakarta. So, how did they manage to travel to Jakarta?? Concorde?? Speed boat?? NO!! It’s a helicopter of Indonesian Military Forces that was being used to bring Kiai Kanjeng from Yogyakarta to Jakarta.

The light and very familiar meeting was continued with a proper introduction between each member of the group and the organizing committee, followed by a short explanation about the total itinerary for the coming 2 weeks. Mr. Siswo Pramono (Minister Counselor of Political Affairs of Indonesian Embassy for the Netherlands) was also in the meeting together with his secretary, Mr. Alfiano Tamala.

There was a little difficulty to define a concert, mini concert, and micro concert. This is in relation to the use of Kiai Kanjeng’s instruments in the limited space of some venues. With limited transportation facilities, tight schedules, and different locations, it makes it impossible for the technical team of Kiai Kanjeng to do some survey to the venues prior to their performance.

However, Kiai Kanjeng was very determined. Cak Nun as the leader kept reminding all of the purity of the mission they have committed themselves to for this occasion, and it was very special for me to see how the group worked together as a team. It seemed like the word “tired” did not exist in their minds, and in the end, they managed to perform with the full group all the way through the touring period.

Day after day went by, it was the purpose that the group would not only perform in front of an audience, but that they also experience the real life in the Netherlands. Therefore, during their visit to the Northern part of the Netherlands, the group was separated and they stayed with ordinary Dutch people in their house. I was worried that it would be a disaster, knowing that some members do not really speak English or Dutch. However, it was very pleasant to see them the next morning being brought by their “host parents” with a big smile coming from both parties. Finally the group gathered again, and they shared their experience using the language that we call “Tarzan language” (body gestures) with laughter and joy. It seems like both Kiai Kanjeng & the hosts had picked up a good memory from this experience.

Another highlighted experience is indeed when the group had the opportunity to visit a Synagogue in Zwolle. Jewish religion is not common in Indonesia, and receiving Moslem, especially quite a large group is indeed not very common in a Synagogue. At that day it was all possible and happened, the group listened to the explanation about Jewish history and also has taken this opportunity to share knowledge between the two religions. Everyone must wear a “yamulka” (Jewish hat), unless their head is already covered.

During this whole period of the project, I did try my very best to be with the group as much as possible and assist them with what was necessary, and we built such a close relationship. It was in fact an honor to me to be called as their ‘gate’ to the Dutch culture. Physically, this whole experience was consuming quite some masses of energy, but when there was the time when the group had to go back home to their family and to move on in their next journey of life, I felt something was missing and I wished that this was not the ending of it. This short experience has indeed taught me to become a better person, think positive, and to live a better life by seeing others through their output and not the input.

Hopefully this golden experience will become one Holy step to bring people together, to bring war among religions to an end, to appreciate the differences in cultures, and to understand the essence of being human being as one tiny creature of THE CREATOR, and our VOICES will make a great impact to the VISIONS of living in one peaceful world. Amen.

W. H. Sasmito
November ‘08