THE LONTAR FOUNDATION
We are an independent, not-for-profit organization based in Jakarta, Indonesia,
promoting Indonesian literature and culture through the translation of its literary works
Against the Grain
By Suwarsih Djojopuspito
Translated by George A. Fowler
The Mystical Path of Badrul Mustafa
By Heru Joni Putra
Translated by George A. Fowler
The Lontar Anthology of Indonesian Drama
Vol. 1 Plays for the Popular Stage (1890-1960)
AUTHOR OF THE MONTH
John Waromi, born Fredie Johnie Waromi, on August 6, 1960, in Jayapura, is a prominent Indonesian author whose work has brought the cultural and social realities of Papua to international attention. John has established himself as a vital voice in Indonesian literature, blending lived experience with a strong commitment to storytelling.
A member of the Ambai ethnic group, John studied law at Cenderawasih University before pursuing a creative path shaped by both national and international experiences. His early involvement in the Indonesian scouting movement included sailing aboard the naval training ship KRI Dewa Ruci in 1983, while his move to Jakarta in 1986 connected him with the influential Bengkel Teater collective led by poet WS Rendra. These formative encounters deepened his artistic vision and commitment to literature.
Waromi’s acclaimed novel Anggadi Tupa, Harvesting the Storm has been translated into English, expanding his readership beyond Indonesia. His career includes appearances at the Ubud Writers Festival and the Northern Territory Writers Festival in Darwin, Australia. In 2015, he served as one of Indonesia’s literary represenatves at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2015, a role he repeated in 2019 at the London Book Fair.
Waromi’s enduring contributions mark him as a leading figure in contemporary Indonesian writing and a representative of Papua’s literary heritage.
BOOK OF THE MONTH
Anggadi Tupa: Harvesting the Storm by John Waromi is the first novel published by a Papuan author. Translated by Sarita Newson, this fable-like tale unfolds along the shores of West Papua, where creatures on land and sea live in remarkable harmony—until greed disrupts the balance.
The story is told through three creatures: Andevavait, an amphibious tide-pool blenny who can live both above and below water; Bohurai, a greedy toadfish; and Anggereai, an observant striped crab.
In this ecological parable, Waromi explores the consequences of “harvesting the storm”—the idea that we are destined to reap the results of our actions once events have moved beyond our control. Along the way, he illuminates the ecology of the southern Papuan coast and the lives and culture of its people, whose traditions have sustained natural diversity and preserved a delicate balance with nature for centuries.
In the Ambai language, “anggadi tupa” refers to coconuts that wash ashore, often after a storm. Some are eaten; others are planted to produce new trees. But in Waromi’s novel, what washes ashore or emerges from the earth includes remnants of another storm: the Pacific War. Humans use abandoned Japanese and American munitions, including dynamite, to blast reefs and harvest fish.
At its heart, Anggadi Tupa is an allegory of Waromi’s own Ambai people and their struggle to survive in West Papua today.
“The Smiling Semar from America” (Semar Mesem dari Amerika) is a documentary film devoted to the life of Gregory John Churchill (1947-2022) and his love of Indonesian puppets. During his decades in Indonesia he collected more than 8,000 puppets from around Indonesia and other parts of the world.
The film was produced by the Lontar Foundation under the supervision of John H. McGlynn and directed by Eva Tobing.
Novel Against the Grain karya Suwarsih Djojopuspito bukan hanya berbicara tentang dunia pergerakan, tetapi juga kehidupan rumah tangga kaum pergerakan, tarik-menarik antara dunia privat dan publik di masa yang penuh gejolak. Novel ini boleh disebut sebagai novel feminis pertama dalam sastra Indonesia.
Mari bergabung dalam peluncuran dan diskusi “Perempuan dan Pergerakan”.
Jumat, 23 Agustus 2024
19.00 WIB
Komunitas Utan Kayu
Jalan Utan Kayu Raya 68H,
Matraman, Jakarta Timur
Pembicara:
Dewi Widyastuti
Isyana Artharini
Moderator:
Dhianita Kusuma Pertiwi
Registrasi:
bit.ly/Against_The_Grain
Acara ini terbuka untuk umum, tempat terbatas, gratis dengan pendaftaran.
Terselenggara atas kerja sama Yayasan Lontar dan Komunitas Utan Kayu.
Didukung oleh Dana Indonesiana – Kemendikbudristek – LPDP
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