Jembrana, Bull Racing Center

I Ketut Nama :
‘Jegog’ Took Him to Japan 25 Times

Ritually, in each ceremonial event in Bali the various arts forms are truly related and have tightly connection with each other, especially of dance and tabuh (instrumental) art. Both arts are habitually performed, so it indirectly becomes part of a ceremonial ritual event in Bali. It increases constantly and forms many new creations evidently, to avoid the monotony in arts. This evidence is really connected to the partaking of the artist. They work all the time in seeking a new arts form. One of them is I Ketut Nama, Jegog artisan, who comes from Samblong area, Sangkar Agung sub village, Negara sub district, and Jembrana regency.

I Ketut Nama, who was born on 11 November 1945, is the master of Jegog (a large sort of bamboo music instrument). Starting not too seriously in the area of Jegog, he latterly became addicted to this sort of art, and began seriously working on it. Later, in 1963, he staged for his talented ability in front of the public with a new touching style, which is pleasant to hear.
Along with the Bali tourism development, a chance is wide open. He creates group of jegog arts at Sanggar Agung, and these are usually staged in numerous star hotels such as at Nusa Dua, Sanur, and Kuta. He is also one of the Jegog trainers who is daily occupied by the topic of Jegog. “I will dedicate my self to Jegog, as the traditional art of Jembrana, northern Bali,” he said to Bali Travel News.
He explained again,” Since I was a kid, I already took delight in the arts, especially Jegog. My activity inspiration in arts is inspired from Jegog. I also participated in making jegog instrument. The result is that the jegog costumer is come the artist who from Denpasar and Nusa Dua, even from Asia (Japan).”
He learned this kind of art as an autodidact. After working on his farmland, he used his sufficient time to play bamboo music. He performed his striking skills in playing a jegog instrument at Ksirarnawa building, as his compensation by receiving an accreditation as an old artisan a few days ago.
The Jegog art was grown and developed in his village starting from around the year 1922. As the ancestor of this legacy, I Ketut Nama believe that this art should be conserved. For this reason, he has dedicated his life through art. And, through his talented skill of playing Jegog, he flew away to Sakura country (Japan) for 25 times with Jegog Suar Agung art group, lead by I Ketut Suwentra, SST.
This father of six children, beside actively improve and conserve the jegog art, is also active in founding the joged bumbung art, since 1963 – which is still continuing to this day. He also guides the gong kebyar in his village. His expertise as an artist descends to all of his children. His older daughter, Ni Wayan Ratih, is a renowned dance trainer in Jembrana. So is his second son, I Made Suastika, who competent in striking jegog and joged bumbung, beside as a dancer and art founder. (BTN/015)