Betawi Cultures

The name "Betawi" is derived from Batavia, the old colonial name of Jakarta.[4] In
neighboring Javanese and Sundanese languages, the term "Betawi" originally referred to colonial
Batavia. The Betawis are one of the youngest, or the latest formed ethnic group in Indonesia.
They are a creole ethnic group in that their ancestors came from various parts of Indonesia and
abroad.

In the 17th century, Dutch colonials began to import servants and labours from all
over the archipelago into Batavia. One of the earliest were Balinese slaves bought from Bali
and Ambonese mercenaries. Subsequently, other ethnic groups followed suit; they were
Malays, Sundanese, Javanese, Minangkabau, Bugis and Makassarese. Foreign ethnic groups
were also included; such as Mardijker, Portuguese, Dutch, Arabs, Chinese and Indian, who
were originally brought to or attracted to Batavia to work. A majority of the Betawi people
follow Sunni Islam. However, there are a significant number who profess the Christian faith.

The Betawi language is a Malay-based creole language. It was the only Malay-based
dialect spoken on the northern coast of Java; other northern Java coastal areas are
overwhelmingly dominated by Javanese dialects, while some parts speak Madurase and
Sundanese. Betawi vocabulary has many Hokkien Chinese, Arabic, and Dutch loanwords.
Today the Betawi language is a popular informal language in Indonesia and used as the base
of Indonesian accent. It has become one of the most widely-spoken languages in Indonesia,
and also one of the most active local dialects in the country.
The culture and artform of the Betawi people demonstrate the influences
experienced by them throughout their history. Foreign influences are visible, such as
Portuguese and Chinese influences on their musics, and Sundanese, Javanese and Chinese
influences in their dances.
The Gambang kromong and Tanjidor, as well as Keroncong Kemayoran music is
derived from the kroncong music of Portuguese Mardijker people of Tugu area, North
Jakarta.
The Ondel-ondel large bamboo masked-puppet giant effigy is similar to Chinese-
Balinese Barong Landung and Sundanese Badawang, the artforms of masked dance. The
traditional Betawi dances costumes shows both Chinese and European influences, while the
movements such as Yapong dance, which is derived from Sundanese Jaipongan dance with a
hint of Chinese style. Another dance is Topeng Betawi or Betawi mask dance.
Betawi popular folk drama is called lenong, which is a form of theater that draw
themes from local urban legends, foreign stories to everyday life of Betawi people.
 Silat Betawi is a martial art of Betawi people, which was not quite popular, but
recently has gained wider attention thanks to the popularity of silat films, such as The Raid.
Betawi martial art was rooted in Betawi culture of jagoan that during colonial times often
went against colonial authority; despised by the Dutch as thugs and bandits, but highly
respected by local pribumis as native's champion. In Betawi dialect, their style of pencak
silat is called maen pukulan which related to Sundanese maen po. Notable schools among
other are Beksi and Cingkrik. Beksi is one of the most commonly practiced forms of silat in
Greater Jakarta, and is distinguishable from other Betawi silat styles by its close-distance
combat style and lack of offensive leg action.
During a Betawi wedding ceremony, there is a palang pintu tradition of silat Betawi
demonstration. It was a choreographed mock fighting between groom's entourage with
bride's jagoan kampung (local champion). The fight is naturally won by groom's entourage
as the village champs welcomes him to bride's home. The traditional wedding dress of
Betawi displays Chinese influence in bride's costume and Arabian influences in groom's
costume. Betawi people borrowed Chinese culture of firecrackers during wedding,
circumcisions or any celebrative events. The tradition of bringing roti buaya (crocodile
bread) during wedding is probably a European custom. Other Betawi celebrations and
ceremonies include sunatan or khitanan (Muslim circumcision), and Lebaran Betawi festival.
As a thriving port city, the cuisine of Betawi is eclectic as it reflects the foreign
culinary traditions that has been influenced the inhabitant of Jakarta for centuries. Betawi
cuisine is heavily influenced by Peranakan Cuisine of Chinese Indonesian, Malay cuisine,
neighboring Sundanese and Javanese cuisine, to some extent Indian, Arabic and European
cuisines. Betawi people have several popular cuisines, such as soto betawi, soto kaki, nasi
uduk, kerak telor, nasi ulam, asinan, ketoprak, rujak, semur jengkol, sayur asem, gabus
pucung, and gado-gado Betawi.
Betawi houses architecture are typically one of three styles: rumah bapang (or
rumah kebaya), rumah gudang (warehouse style), and Javanese-influenced rumah joglo.
Most betawi houses have a gabled roof, with the exception the joglo house, which has a
high pointed roof. Betawi architecture has a specific ornamentation called gigi balang
("grasshopper teeth") which are a row of wooden shingles applied on the roof fascia.
Another distinctive characteristics of Betawi house is a langkan, a framed open front terrace
where Betawi family receive their guests. The large front terrace is used as an outdoor living
space.