The Reggae Festival has become a tradition for the people of Tidung Island, Seribu Islands, to celebrate the end of 2024.
UGM’s Community Service Program (KKN-PPM UGM) students, together with the local community, organized the Reggae Festival on Tuesday (Dec. 31) during the peak of the New Year’s Eve celebration.
This event also served as an opportunity to strengthen ties between students and the community within the KKN-PPM UGM service program.
Reggae music is a favorite genre among Tidung Island’s residents. The Reggae Festival featured several reggae musicians and artists such as Sejedewe, Dhyo Haw, Rafi Gimbal, D’Blow, and OWL Jam.
This year, the main star of the Reggae Festival was Rasta Ressy, a reggae band that has been performing since 2022. The festival’s uniqueness and authentic atmosphere make it one of the most anticipated events by the community each year.
KKN-PPM students, who were present in the local community, also assisted Tidung Island’s Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis).
Bagas, a team member tasked with the Reggae Festival, expressed his joy at building the festival’s gateway.
“It took three days to create the gateway. We designed it, and then the construction was assisted by other KKN members in collaboration with Pokdarwis,” said Bagas in a statement to reporters on Wednesday (Jan. 8).
In addition to Bagas, Sarwindah, another team member, was entrusted with being the master of ceremonies for the Reggae Festival. This opportunity became an unforgettable experience for Sarwindah.
“It was so much fun. I got to see the local culture here blending with the island’s atmosphere. The community’s enthusiasm was also very high,” she said.
Not only did they experience the local traditions and culture of Tidung Island, but the UGM KKN team also felt the closeness and warmth while mingling with the local community.
After preparations were completed, the Reggae Festival opened on Tuesday (Dec. 31) with various performances. Interestingly, although the festival focused on one music genre, the local community still presented other traditional elements.
One of these was a lenong performance by Lenong Ki Jambul Wulung and Lenong Bohay KB. Dangdut music accompanied performances leading up to the New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
Established in February 2024, Tidung Island’s Pokdarwis reflects the community’s awareness of tourism potential. Pokdarwis actively develops Tidung Island’s tourism, including management, maintenance, and the addition of new tourist spots.
“When it comes to tourism, we definitely want to improve the community’s welfare. We hope that with Pokdarwis, we can attract even more tourists,” said Saiful, the Pokdarwis Chairperson.
The Reggae Festival, with its combination of traditional cultural elements and a unique music genre beloved by Tidung Island residents, is one way to attract tourists. The New Year’s celebration creates economic opportunities, especially for local residents who sell their goods during the festival.
Gatra, a vendor who has been selling in the area for around 11 years, stated that this event greatly helps the local economy.
Not only tourists but also local residents purchased his goods during the festival’s festivities. He hopes that events like this will be held more frequently to attract tourists.
“I also enjoy myself when there’s an event like this, so I can sell while listening to music,” said Gatra.
The Reggae Festival marks a good start for the work of Tidung Island’s Pokdarwis. They hope that with the presence of UGM students, the government will also support community programs to maximize tourism potential and improve the community’s welfare.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photo: Tiket.com