Jakarta Anniversary Festival 2007 to Begin Today

The 2007 Jakarta Anniversary Festival (JAF) will begin today to celebrate the 480th anniversary of Indonesia`s capital city. The theme of this year`s festival would be “My Jakarta, Your Jakarta, Our Jakarta,” Aurora Frida Tambunan, head of the Jakarta Culutral and Museum Service, said.

“Jakarta does not only belong to the native Jakartans, but it`s ours, so we all have the responsibility to preserve the culture,” she said.

The annual festival to be held at the Jakarta Art Building is aimed at preserving and promoting the culture and arts of Jakarta.

“The event will be an educative and recreational entertainments for Jakarta`s inhabitants as well as visitors from other regions,” she added.

The opening of JAF 2007 will be highlighted with a music performance featuring “Skolastika Ansambel” music group led by Marusya Nainggolan.

There will also be a poem reading by three women of different backgrounds, namely Tatiek Fauzi Bowo (wife of the current Jakarta Deputy Governor), Auroria Frida Tambunan, and Fiona Goggart (the cultural attache of the Australian embassy in Jakarta).

The 2007 Jakarta Anniversary Festival will be officially opened by Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso and will last until June 29, 2007 according to the report in the Antara News.