The Angklung: The Maintenance of Indonesian Cultural Heritage through Public Pedagogy

Abstract

The Angklung is a musical instrument from Indonesia. The performance of Angklung has survived 400 years of colonial rule in Indonesia, as well as endured in host countries by Indonesian migrants thereby it operates as a political, as well as, a social form of public pedagogy that enhances ‘the quality of human togetherness (Biesta 2012, p. 684). This paper outlines a brief history of the Angklung and its role as a unifying symbol of social cohesion. Research on the migration of Indonesian Colombo Plan students in the 1960s to South Australia and the continued performance of the Angklung in South Australia is explored in relation to its role as public pedagogy. Adelindo Angklung was established in 2011 in Adelaide with the aim to maintain and share Indonesian traditional music in South Australia. This paper offers insight into the performance of Angklung as a form of public pedagogy that has an enduring history across continents. We explore how the Indonesian community has embedded a sense of community within Adelaide, as well as retained connections to Indonesia through performing and practicing Angklung.