Well, well - the Dangdut legend is not only going to perform in Pittsburg, US of A, but he's going to speak at an international conference on Islamic CULTURE.
I wonder whether the artiste is going to talk about the 'kawin siri' and poligamy to the international audience. Can't wait to read about his debut as an international speaker on Islamic matters. Gabriela Rantau Dangdut legend to perform in U.S. The Jakarta Post | Sat, 09/20/2008 3:59 AM | Life Dangdut music lovers in the U.S. will soon enjoy a special treat as legendary singer Rhoma Irama is scheduled to perform in Pittsburg, where he will also speak at an international conference on Islamic culture. "This is really a surprise for me. This is a golden chance to clarify that Islam is not about terror," he said as quoted by Kompas Friday night. Rhoma said he was preparing a paper in english with a theme on Islam's identity in the face of global changes. Picturing the paper being presented in front of international Muslim scholars made Rhoma a bit uneasy. "I'm very much used to performing outside the country. But the idea of presenting the paper makes my heart beats faster," he said while adding that the essence of his paper would be that the message of Islam could be delivered through peaceful means such as music. He is scheduled to depart on October 8. Dangdut is an Indonesian music genre which mixes Indian, Arabic and Western music styles. It was initially labeled lower class music, but this image has gradually changed over the years with more listeners coming from outside the country, notably Japan and the U.S. A recent Dangdut music singing competition in the U.S. was won by an African American, Arreal Tilghman of Delaware. Tilghman is currently in Indonesia, teaming up with local musicians in crafting what would become the first dangdut music album with an American singer.
