Ondel-ondel Galau

What do you know about the Ondel-ondel? How much do you know about Betawi culture?

If you have no idea about Betawi culture, it’s completely fine. I, myself, didn’t think much about it until I was caught in Jakarta’s traffic, when I saw a pair of exhausted Ondel-ondel in worn-out costumes roaming on the street, asking people for money. This embarrassing scene made me wonder and curious to know more about the Ondel-ondel story. What happened?

Ondel-ondel Galau is about a young girl, Vina, who has been living a typical middle school life: going to school in the morning and heading back home in the afternoon. Worn out by the same cycle every day, Vina took on a new challenge and joined her school’s traditional Betawi music club, where she plays the violin. With this new activity, she makes new friends, faces new challenges and exposing herself to her own native culture that she has never known before.

Join Vina to know more about the Betawi Culture!

“Buku ini penting ada di zaman sekarang, saat semua saling kejar untuk berada di depan. Karena itu, penting bagi kita untuk kembali ke mata air dan warisan yang ingin digali. Uniknya, buku ini berlari dengan gaya hidup populer, gaya hidup zaman sekarang. Saya harap buku ini akan menjadi pemenang dalam adu lari tersebut.” —Bang Yahya Andi Saputra, Ketua Lembaga Kebudayaan Betawi

“Frances dengan tulisannya membawa kita kembali mengingat warisan budaya Betawi yang perlahan mulai terkikis globalisasi dan kehidupan Jakarta yang semakin kompleks. Dikemas dengan riang dan ringan, perjalanan Frances akan mendorong kita, terutama generasi muda, untuk kembali mengingat dan melestarikan akar budaya Betawi di tengah hiruk-pikuk Jakarta, tempat berbagai budaya berbaur.” —Toufan Yamin, Abang Jakarta Pusat 2015