Seni Reog: An Epic Battle Then, and a Cultural Dispute Now
By Izzuddin Ramli
August 2022 FEATURE
IN INDONESIA’S kabupaten (regency) of Ponorogo, people tell the story of the mythical battle between their king, Kelono Sewandono and the magical lion-like creature called Singa Barong. King Kelono reigned over the Bantarangin, a kingdom believed to be part of the ancient Ponorogo. In the vast repertory of Javanese epic dance masks, the king is depicted as red-skinned with prominent eyes, wearing a gold-coloured crown and carrying pecut samandiman, a decorated whip in his hand.King Kelono sets out on a...
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Izzuddin Ramli
is a Kelantanese analyst at Penang Institute. He is a writer who seeks refuge in Penang, and agrees with Rumi that the Earth is not our home, we are just passing through.
