Remembering Betawi Artist Benyamin Sueb

Who doesn't know this one actor...? Benyamin Sueb is a legend from Betawi who is famous for his timeless films and songs.

His full name is Benyamin Sueb, born in Jakarta on March 5, 1939. He is an actor, comedian, director, and singer who is remembered today. He has starred in more than 75 music albums and 53 films.

The youngest of eight children of the Suaeb-Aisyah couple, he lost his father when he was two years old. Due to the uncertain economic conditions of his family, from the age of three, he was allowed to sing around the village and the proceeds were used to pay for his older siblings' school fees. He is also known as a mischievous and humorous child, and that's why his friends like him.

Little Benjamin likes to play music, and together with his brothers, he makes his own musical instruments with used goods. The youngest of eight children, he was best known among his seven siblings at that time as a Betawi artist.

At the age of 7, he entered the Jago Dam Folk School. Had moved schools to Bandung when he was in 5th grade, but then returned to Jakarta again when he was in junior high school and entered the school where the comedian Ateng attended. He continued high school at Taman Kemayoran Jakarta and spent a year studying at the Jakarta banking academy, even though it was only for a year.

He returned to his music career after marrying Noni in 1959, his wife who divorced in 1979 and reconciled in the same year. He has 5 children from his first marriage. And with his second wife, Alifah, he was blessed with 4 children.

The man who until the end of his life was in touch with the world of entertainment finally died on September 5, 1995 of a heart attack after playing football.

Young Benjamin admits that he does not have definite goals. He has had several professions, such as a push-bread seller and bus driver. His musical career began when he joined the Naga Mustika music group. It was this group that raised the name Benyamin in Indonesia. He also had a duet with Ida Royani. When Ida Royani moved to Malaysia, she also changed duet with Inneke Koesoemawati. Then, because of his fame in the field of music, it also gave him the opportunity to play in films.

Several film titles, such as DOEL CHILDREN OF BETAWI and BETAWI BULL, have made their name known. He also tried soap operas and television films. However, he is identified as an artist who has contributed to Betawi traditional art, especially Gambang Kromong.

In 1990 on March 5, he founded his own radio station called BENS RADIO in collaboration with ETNIKOM NETWORK.

Now, for a bit of nostalgia, there is one of Benjamin Sueb's best films that you should watch, namely "DRACULA MANTU".

This film, which was released in 1974, tells the story of Benjamin, whose life is full of hardships. In order to earn money, Benyamin is willing to do anything, including working as a handyman to repair an old house that will be occupied by immigrants who have just returned from studying in England.

Who would have thought, it turns out that the old house has a lot of ghosts. The ghosts are waiting for the arrival of prince Dracula and his son who will be married to the child of one of the ghosts who live in the house.

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History of Gambang Kromong Music

Gambang Kromong is a Betawi cultural art that is still being preserved today. This art is often played at official events and people's parties. let's discuss where this art actually comes from.

The name Gambang Kromong is taken from the names of two percussion instruments, namely Gambang and Kromong. The beginning of the formation of the Gambang Kromong orchestra was inseparable from a Chinese community leader who was appointed by the Dutch (Capitan Cina) named Nie Hoe Kong (term of office 1736-1740)

In the 17th century, many Chinese immigrants came to Tanah Betawi and they introduced this art to the public, namely a Chinese community leader who was appointed by the Dutch named Nie Hoe Kong introduced this art to the local community.

Initially, Gambang Kromong was played only with a stringed instrument named Tehyan, Kongahyan, and Sukong. Over time, local people's interest in this art developed, so this art developed in the Betawi community.

The term Gambang Kromong is taken from the names of two percussion or percussion instruments, namely Gambang and Kromong. xylophone musical instruments made of wood lined up as many as 18 pieces, while Kromong musical instruments made of bronze or iron, totaling 10 pieces.

The xylophone blades, numbering 18, are usually made of suangking, huru Batu, manggarawan, or other types of wood which make a soft sound when hit. Kromong is usually made of bronze or iron, totaling 10 pieces (ten pencon). The scale used in gambang kromong is the Chinese pentatonic scale, which is often called Chinese salendro or salendro mandalungan. Instruments on the Gambang Kromong consist of Gambang, Krumong, Gong, Drum, Flute, Kecrek, Sukong, Tehyan, or Kongahyan as melodies.

The Gambang Kromong Orchestra is a harmonious blend of indigenous elements and Chinese elements. Physically, Chinese elements can be seen in the stringed instruments, namely the sukong, tehyan and kongahyan. The combination of these two cultural elements can also be seen in the repertoire of his songs.

In addition to songs that show indigenous characteristics, such as Dalem (Classic) songs entitled: Centeh Manis Standing, Mas Nona, Gula Ganting, Semar Gunem, Gula Ganting, Tanjung Burung, Kula Nun Salah, and Mawar Spilled and so on, and songs - Vegetable songs (Pop) entitled: Jali-jali, Stambul, Centeh Manis, Surilang, Persi, Balo-balo, Abang Haji, Renggong Buyut, Snap Payung, Kramat Karem, Onde-onde, Gelatik Ngunguk, Lenggang Kangkung, Sirih Kuning and etc., there are also songs that are clearly Chinese in style, both song names, melodies and lyrics, such as Kong Ji Liok, Sip Pat Mo, Poa Si Li Tan, Peh Pan Tau, Cit No Sha, Ma Cun Tay, Cu Te Pan , Cay Cu Teng, Cay Cu Siu, Lo Fuk Cen, and so on.

The songs that are performed on gambang kramong music are songs that are humorous, full of joy, and sometimes ridicule or satire. The performance of the song is sung in turns between men and women as opponents.

Gambang Kromong is Betawi music that is most evenly distributed in Betawi cultural areas, both in DKI Jakarta itself and in the surrounding areas (Jabotabek). If there are more Peranakan Chinese in the local Betawi community, there are also more gambang kramong orchestra groups. In North Jakarta and West Jakarta, for example, there are more Gambang Kromong groups than in South Jakarta and East Jakarta.

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