Community-based practices of archiving indonesian popular music: Redefining the notion of Indonesia

Abstract

Between 2009 and 2016, Indonesia saw the emergence of at least four initiatives working together to collect, archive, and preserve recordings and other materials related to Indonesian popular music: Irama Nusantara, Arsip Jazz Indonesia, Lokananta Project, and Museum Musik Indonesia. In this chapter, we explore how these initiatives preserved Indonesian popular music and how the genre has influenced notions of cultural heritage in Indonesia. The absence of a formal institution for archiving Indonesian popular music emphasizes the importance of community archives in developing and maintaining a cultural memory of this music. Despite their similar mission, namely, to make the Indonesian public aware of the importance of the history of popular music, their activities differ greatly. To some extent, the archives they establish create and maintain memories within communities while constructing the identities of individuals, social groups, corporate bodies, and the nation.