Didong
Indonesia is all about the richness of culture as it appears on the beauty town of Takengon. Takengon is a small town but it is also a capital city of Central Aceh Regency. More than 230,000 people are living amongst the coolness of this highland. The scenery of pine trees coupled a series of tropical vegetations are peppering semi permanent houses. Placed on the shores of Laut Tawar Lake, this town offers agro tourism and fun activities to do.
Native people of Takengon usually called urang Gayo or Gayonese people. While they had known for their famous coffee, local people also spreading their beautiful culture through an art performance named Didong. Didong is the most popular dance in Takengon since it used as a media to spread Islam in Indonesia land. Recently Didong only performed in important occasions such as wedding party or opening ceremony of state events. Didong comes as one of Gayo people art that featuring dance, vocal and literature. Didong has been existed since the age of Reje Linge XIII. In that period this art introduced by Abdul Kadir To’et while it is being favorite of Takengon people and Bener Meriah people. Some people said Didong word comes from ‘denang’ or ‘donang’ word that means singing while working or comes along with sounds. Others said Didong comes from ‘din’ word and ‘dong’. ‘Din’ means religion and ‘dong’ means propaganda.
Didong was using poet media to spread Islam when Ceh didong (or didong artist) was not only delivering noble values but also inviting people to see their life from the perspective of Islam figures. Didong fully contains religious values, beautiful messages, and togetherness. Further didong required their ceh not only to understand the depth of religious stories but also their nice voice to sing its poet and well behavior. It means Ceh didong should be a real artist who has any good excessive in any aspect to deliver Islam teachings. In that time Didong performed in the feast day of Islam.
Didong later also performed in custom ceremonies such as wedding, khitan, harvesting time, and others. Didong artists picking theme fitted with the ceremony. In a wedding ceremony didong artist is delivering riddle about marriage rules so didong announcer should master marriage custom. This way remains people acknowledgment about custom that is almost vanished. Japan colonization era has changed the face of didong. In this age didong artist should struggle to make new face of didong that should entertain Japan soldiers. Didong then told about social protest toward Japanese domination. At proclamation era, didong turned into the tools of government to explain about Pancasila and UUD 1945. Didong also holds important role as togetherness spirit to help each other.
Didong composed by an art group of didong art as it consists of some Ceh and other members who called ‘penunung’. A didong group can consists of 30 persons while the Ceh can be 4-5 persons and the rest of them are penunung. Usually didong group dominated by men but now it also composed by women. There is also teenager group. Didong artists are using small pillow and hands to create simple voice while didong player also using flute, harmonica, and other instruments to assist simple move of its carrier. Didong performed in an open area or in a tent as it performed the battle of two groups (Didong Jalu). One group will sing riddles and the other will answer their riddle, it holds in turn. The lyrics are usually themed about education, family planning, government or any social critics. The truth of their answer will assess by grand jury that consists of people figures who understood about discussed problem.
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