BARABAI (TABIRkota) — Jessica Rosia Lane and her daughter, Sofia Erica Ellina Lane, two Australian citizens, expressed their profound admiration for the “Gamalan Banjar” (a traditional Banjar musical ensemble) and its intricate playing techniques during a recent cultural visit.
The mother and daughter shared their fascination after visiting the Ading Bastari Art Studio in Barikin Village, Haruyan District, Hulu Sungai Tengah (HST) Regency, South Kalimantan, on Thursday (July 16).
According to Jessica, Banjar arts and culture hold a powerful appeal, offering not only beautiful sounds but also rich history and community identity.
“During my time in HST, my love for Banjar culture has grown deeply, and I hope to return here one day suicide,” she said.
Jessica and Sofia are of Banjar descent, tracing their lineage back to the Kalua area in Tabalong Regency. They currently reside in Perth, Australia.
Jessica explained that she wanted to bring her family to Barikin to witness the Banjar culture they had only ever heard about through stories.
“I wanted my family to experience being in an art village firsthand, to meet the local Banjar artists, and to feel the warmth of the HST community,” she added.
Meanwhile, Lupi Anderiani, the head of the Ading Bastari Art Studio, noted that the visit from the Australian-based Banjar diaspora served as more than just a cultural introduction. It also became a meaningful moment to trace family ancestry.
“We exchanged family trees and discovered our shared great-grandparents, realizing that we all share the same bond as ‘urang Banjar’ (Banjar people),” Lupi said.
Historically, during the Banjar War, Jessica’s great-grandparents ‘madam’ (migrated) to Tembilahan, Riau, and settled there.
When World War II broke out and Japanese forces entered Sumatra, Jessica’s grandmother and family fled to Singapore. Although Jessica grew up in Singapore, the traditions and stories of the Banjar homeland remained close to her heart, passed down by her mother and grandmother.
Jessica later married Peter Lane, an Australian citizen, and settled in Australia, where they raised two children, Sofia Erica Ellina Lane and Samantha Suriyani Lane.
For Jessica and Sofia, their journey to HST was far more than a simple vacation; it was a profound quest to reconnect with the cultural roots that had previously lived only in their family’s oral history. (ra)
