Zeffry Alkatiri
(1960) was born and raised in Jakarta. His family history - with Arab, Pakistani and Betawi ancestors - reflects the cosmopolitan character of the city of his birth. He studied Russian and American Studies at the Universitas Indonesia in Jakarta. At the moment he teaches at the department of Russian at the Universitas Indonesia. His poetic genius was established with his volume of poems Dari Batavia sampai Jakarta, 1619-1999 for which he received the prize for the best Indonesian volume of poetry 1998-2000’. Other publications are Manusia, Mitos, dan Mitologi (1998), Pintu, Etalase, Batavia Centrum (collected poetry, 1998), and Konflik Nilai dalam Sejarah Perkembangan Sastra Rusia.
Past events
From the Dutch East Indies to Indonesia
What is decolonization? It is the departure, gradually that is, of an old colonial power. Is it an arrival too? The decolonization of Indonesia is full of questions and uncertainties. Remco Raben will come to mention this in his introduction. Subsequently the researchers present the answers which their studies in the research programme 'From the Dutch East Indies to Indonesia' yielded. The Jakartan poet Zeffry Alkatiri opens the day with the poem Amsterdam-Batavia. He tells the story of Jakarta as an eyewitness of history.
From Batavia to Jakarta in prose, poetry and film
The past is what has been, governments cherish hush-hush policies, but history remains alive in the family memory. How do younger generations look at the making of Indonesia? What is left of the aspirations of their parents? Has the decolonization process been completed? Young writer Nukila Amal projects herself in the time. In addition she gives her own view on history. Roaming the streets past buildings, streets and squares the Jakartan poet Zeffry Alkatiri brings images from past and present to life. His poems are framed by historical and contemporary film and sound material about Batavia and Jakarta. Martin de Vletter of the Dutch Architecture Institute comments on the images and talks with Zeffry Alkatiri. Joss Wibisono hosts the conversation. Dutch and English spoken.
