Okokan Semara Madya
Earnings to Build Banjar and Temple

Okokan is a wooden item which produces sounds when moved. It’s a cow choker, so the shepherd will know the whereabouts of their cows after hearing the sound of ‘okokan’.

Few artists use okokan as a music instrument to accompany a dance-drama. The art of okokan can be found in Baturiti Kaja Sub Village, Kerambitan Sub District, Tabanan Regency, which organized a sekaa okokan (okokan group) named ‘Semara Madya’ (Rama).
According to the group’s leader, I Wayan Sudiarsa, a big shaped okokan existed long time ago in his village, but it has never been played because those four okokan measured of 1.5 – 2 meter. The giant okokan will be played for ngerebek rituals which is aimed to overcome a disaster or an evil spirit.
Then, since 1 April 1996, a group of okokan musical artist triesd to imitate the giant okokan, which later on was used to accompany the dance-drama of ‘Calonarang’. “As the result of tourism development, this okokan art form is now more frequently staged at hotels,” Sudiarsa said.
To produce a harmonic sound, okokan is usually combined with other traditional music instruments such as kendang (doubelled-drum), cengceng (cymbal), tawa-tawa, kempur, gong and tektekan.
First time established, this group was supported by 110 family head. They keep improving the okokan instrument which they purchased up to Blatungan Village, Pupuan, and finally they have 22 okokan with assorted size. Each of their performance, they will take one of four original giant okokan, not to play on but only as an ornament to raise the player’s spirit.
There are two kinds of okokan shows. The first on is to welcome the guest, with 5–10 minutes duration. This performance present various sound creations of okokan and dance movements of the dancers. This show leads by a player who also acts as a conductor.
The second is to accompany the dance-drama performance. This dance-drama usually adopts the theme of Calonarang story entitled “Katundung Ratna Mangali”. On this show, Barong and Rangda shows as the transformation of good and bad deeds.
This kind of dance-drama with 20 – 30 minutes duration is often staged at Puri Anyar Kerambitan and also on sort hotels in Nusa Dua, Sanur, Kuta and Ubud. “That was years ago, but now it’s become rare. Around 1998, we staged at least 2 – 4 times a week,” said this elementary school teacher with sulky voice.
This okokan art often staged on Bali Art Festival (BAF). During the BAF 2002, they performed the titled of “Katundung Ratna Mengali”, then within the BAF 2003, the presented the story “Bahula Duta”, which both still within the story of Calonarang.
For welcoming staging they were paid Rp.1.5 millions, and Rp. 3 millions for the dance-drama performance. 50 % profit directly distributed in equal to the player and dancer after staging and the rest will be saved and distributed again each six months exactly on Galungan Holy Day. “We also have an endless saving amount of Rp.25.500.000 in form of deposit, which we use for temple and village hall restoration,” he proudly said. (BTN/015)