Jublak Gamelan Player, Yessi: Limitation is the Strength to Move Forwards

Makassar (October 11^th, 2023) – The 13 delegations from 9 ASEAN countries, 1 observer country from Timor Leste, and 3 ASEAN countries partners, which are United States, United Kingdom, and Australia are treated to Indonesian Music.

Not just any traditional music enlivens Gala Dinner and Art Performance of ASEAN High-level Forum (AHLF) under the clear sky of Fort Rotterdam, Makassar City which is full of nature messages delivered piercing through all directions of the Archipelago’s horizon.

Between the bright stars that night, there’s a performance of Balinese gamelan with its 19-year-old beautiful drummer. Dresses in red combined with a gold scarf and matching long skirt, the girl looks graceful.

The Balinese girl is unable to see with her eyes, but she feels with her heart so that she can see the universe’s beauty supporting the performance in the international event.

She is a person with a visual disability, who feels the bittersweet journey of life she has been through until she can perform on this prestigious stage.

“Limitation is my strength to move forward, train, and develop my skill by playing Jublak Gamelan traditional music instrument and singing,” Nikomang Yessi Anjani Putri who is often called by the nickname of “Yessi” said.

Yessi admits that she feels nervous when she shows off her skill in ASEAN High-level Forum (AHLF) event to play Jublak Gamelan music. However, she feels confident with her skills that have been honed so that she can present a charming performance for the AHLF delegations and the guests.

Honestly, I feel proud to be able to present in AHLF event, because I wasn’t able to participate last year although the weather in Makassar is hotter than in Bali,” she said.

Although she prefers musical instruments, her singing hobby is not to be underestimated, proven by her success in getting some awards and becoming a winner in Bali Provincial level competition.

“I’ve ever participated in a singing competition and became a champion in Bali Provincial level competition. However, I have an unfulfilled wish, which is trying to be a member of the female marching band at school,” she said.

The preparation for performing in AHLF event in Makassar, she claimed that she specifically trained every day to play Jublak Gamelan for 1 to 2 hours.

The key is to train for more than a month, and there’s no time left. So, 1 to 2 hours every day is enough,” she said.

From everything that she has achieved, Yessi has an unfulfilled wish, that is to travel to Yogyakarta and she also wants to hone her skill in traditional music in the City of Culture.

“Yes, I want to travel to Parangtritis Beach in Yogyakarta. Even though there are beaches in Bali, but it’s fun to travel to Parangtritis Beach. And I can hone the skill to play Jublak Gamelan traditional music,” she wished.

However, behind her success, there is a companion, Retno who patiently and thoroughly accompanies and teaches Yessi to play musical instruments and motivates her to perform and be confident despite having limitations.

“Training them is not too difficult by practicing a sound like a noise..cek..cek..cek. We don’t need to teach them musical notes and signs, hearing is enough. Unlike common people,” Retno said.

Retno reveals the secret. A stunning traditional music performance at Gala Dinner is quite difficult, remembering there was a dance from one area to another, such as Betawi to Palembang which are collaborated at length.

“All dancers are persons with disability, and the singers are mostly persons with disability too. That’s a high level of difficulty, moreover, to collaborate traditional dances from one area to another,” Retno said proudly.