Indonesian

Indonesia, one of the most populous countries in the world, is home to about 300 ethnic groups, each with cultural identities developed over centuries, and influenced by Indian, Arabic, Chinese, and European sources. Especially famous for its diverse array of musical genres, Indonesia has given birth to several famous musicians and singers who enjoy immense popularity not only in their own country, but also in neighboring countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. The nation boasts of various dance traditions such as Javanese, Sundanese, Minangkabau, Balinese, Malays, and Acehnese, and of late the Indonesians are also incorporating elements of western ballet and modern dance into their repertoire. The nation’s film industry thrived in the 20th century with figures like Deddy Mizwar, Eva Arnaz, Meriam Bellina, and Rano Karno taking Indonesian cinema to new heights. In the contemporary era television is another one of those fields where Indonesians have made a name for themselves. Indonesian literature and poetry also flourished in the 20th century. Chairil Anwar was considered the greatest literary figure of Indonesia for being among those writers who pioneered in changing the traditional Indonesian literature and modifying it following the nation’s independence. This section provides you information about the life and works of famous Indonesians.