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Tea plantation in Preanger highlands in 1923

Parahyangan or Priangan or Preanger is the mountainous region in West Java province on the island of Java in Indonesia. It covers the regencies (kabupaten) of:

• Bandung
• West Bandung (Bandung Barat)
• Subang (southern part)
• Garut (northern part)
• Purwakarta
• Sumedang

together with the independent cities of Bandung and Cimahi, which are geographically within these regencies although administratively independent.

The total surface area of this area is approximately a little less than 1/6 of Java. Parahyangan is bordered in the West by the kabupaten of Cianjur, in the North by those of Karawang and Indramayu, in the North-East by those of Majalengka and Kuningan, in the East by the Tasikmalaya.

Other than Parahyangan, there is also the area known as Priangan Timur (East Priangan) which cover the regencies of:

• Ciamis
• Tasikmalaya
• Kuningan
• Majalengka

together with the independent cities of Tasikmalaya and Banjar, which are geographically within these regencies although administratively independent.

Etymology[link]

The name "Parahyangan" is originated from Sundanese words which means "the abode of hyangs (gods)". Parahyangan is a mountainous region, and ancient Indonesians believed that the gods resided in the mountain tops. The "hyang" derivation in other placenames on the island of Java, as in the Dieng Plateau in the centre, or the Hyang Plateau in the east.

A Sundanese legend of Sangkuriang contain the memory of the prehistoric ancient lake in Bandung basin highland, which suggest that Sundanese already inhabit the region since stone age era. Another popular Sundanese proverb and legend mentioned about the creation of Parahyangan highlands, the heartland of Sundanese realm; "When the hyangs (gods) were smiling, the land of Parahyangan was created". This legend suggested the Parahyangan highland as the playland or the abode of gods, as well as suggesting its natural beauty.

The train serving Jakarta - Bandung is called Kereta Api Parahyangan. Today it is merged with Argo Gede to become Argo Parahyangan.

History[link]

Parahyangan is a part of the former Sunda Kingdom. The inland mountainous region of Parahyangan was considered as sacred place in Sunda Wiwitan beliefs. The kabuyutan or mandala (sacred sanctuary) of Jayagiri was mentioned in ancient Sundanese texts and located somewhere in Parahyangan highlands, probably north of modern day Bandung in the slopes of Mount Tangkuban Perahu. After the fall of Sunda Kingdom in 16th century, Priangan was administrated by the nobles and aristocrats of Cianjur, Sumedang and Ciamis. Those princes claimed as the rightful heir and the descendants of Sunda kings lineage, King Siliwangi. Although the dominant power at that time was held by Banten and Cirebon Sultanates, the Sundanese aristocrats of Parahyangan highland enjoyed relatively internal freedom and autonomy.

In 1617, Sultan Agung of Mataram launched a military campaign throughout Java and vassalized Sultanate of Cirebon. In 1618 Mataram troops conquered Ciamis and Sumedang and ruled most of Parahyangan region. Mataram Sultanate was involved in a power contest with Dutch East India Company (VOC) centered in Batavia. Later Mataram was gradually weakened through a struggle of successions of Javanese princes and Dutch involvements in internal Mataram court affair. To secure their positions, later Mataram kings have made significant concessions with VOC and have given up many of its lands that originally acquired by Sultan Agung, that including Priangan. Since early 18th century Priangan was under Dutch rule.

During the Dutch colonial time, this area was known as De Preanger. The capital of Preanger initially located in Tjiandjoer (Cianjur), and later moved to Bandung that gradually developed into an important settlement. By 19th century Colonial Dutch has established its holds over most of Java. And through the construction of Daendels' Java Great Post Road that connected Preanger plantation area with the port of Batavia and many other parts of Java, the Preanger was open for investment, exploitations and business. Preanger was an important and productive plantation area during Dutch East Indies era that produce coffee, tea, quinine and many cash crops that benefitted many of wealthy Dutch plantation owners. The famous Java coffee promoted world wide by the Dutch was actually the coffee grown in Parahyangan area. In early 20th century, Bandung grew into an important settlement and a well-planned city. The pre-war Bandung was designed as the new capital of Dutch East Indies, however the World War II brought this plan to end. After Indonesian independence, Parahyangan is considered as romantic historical name of mountainous region of West Java surrounding Bandung.

See also[link]

• Pajajaran
• Carita Parahyangan, a Sunda text on Galuh and other kingdoms of Sunda

Further reading[link]

• A. Sabana Harjasaputra, 2004, "Bupati di Priangan : kedudukan dan peranannya pada abad ke-17 - abad ke-19" in Bupati di
• Priangan dan kajian lainnya mengenai budaya Sunda, Bandung
• Ajip Rosidi et al., 2000, Ensiklopedi Sunda, Jakarta.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Priangan

Rhoma Irama
Background information
Birth name	Raden Irama
Born	(1946-12-11) December 11, 1946 (age 65) Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia
Genres	Dangdut
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, actor
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1967–present
Associated acts	Soneta Group, Ridho Rhoma
Website	http://www.rajadangdut.com

Raden Irama (born December 11, 1946, in Tasikmalaya, West Java), most commonly known as Rhoma Irama, is an Indonesian dangdut musician and occasional actor. During the height of his stardom in the 1970s, he became the self-proclaimed Raja Dangdut (King of Dangdut) with his group Soneta.^[1]

Prior to his a pilgrimage to Mecca, he was known as Oma Irama. He is a member of aristocrat class of Sundanese from both his father, Raden Burdah Anggawirya, and mother, R.H. Tuti Juariah.^[2]

Beginnings[link]

Oma Irama's first bands were known as Tornado and Gayhand, and covered Western rock and roll music of Paul Anka, Andy Williams, and The Beatles.^[3]

In the late 1960s Oma Irama, sang orkes Melayu and also some pop Indonesia. In 1968 he joined the group Orkes Melayu Purnama in 1968. This group pioneered elements of the dangdut style within orkes Melayu music - the drum was changed to double drum, the electric guitar's role was expanded, and the suling, or bamboo flute, adopted a style reminiscent of Bollywood music. He also recorded pop Indonesia music during this period with the Zaenal Combo and Galaksi, while the album 'Ingkar Janji' was recorded in 1969 with Orkes Melayu Chandraleka.

Once Oma broke from recording with the Purnama Group, he formed Orkes Melayu Soneta (named for the English word sonnet), which became the first dangdut group in 1970. The subtitle, 'the sound of Moslems' was added in 1973.

The group featured Oma Irama and Elvy Sukaesih as singers, both solo, and duets. Their first album, 'Volume 01', 'Begadang' ('Stay up all night'), released in 1973, featured 4 songs by Oma Irama, three by Elvy, and three duets. The song featured a topless Oma Irama wearing tight trousers and holding an electric guitar. His choice of pose showed the influence on his music of Western hard rock bands, influences which also found their way into his music - orkes Melayu was in his opinion was too soft, too acoustic, too polite, and unable to compete against the power and energy of rock music, and so the music was electrified, with keyboard, two electric guitars, electric bass, as well as the traditional suling and gendang. He has stated that he took his guitar style from Richie Blackmore of Deep Purple. In addition to Western and Malay influences, Hindi composers were credited for some of the band's songs.

The Begadang album ranked #11 on Rolling Stone Indonesia's "150 Greatest Indonesian Albums of All Time" list.^[4] Furthermore, the main single "Begadang" reached at number 24 on the magazine's "150 Greatest Indonesian Songs of All Time" list.^[5]

His 1973 hit Terajana, one of the best-known dangdut songs of all time, was the first to use the newly coined, and arguably derogatory, term dangdut, distinguishing the Javanese orkes Melayu music, heavily influenced by Indian Bollywood records, henceforth dangdut, from the established orkes Melayu, associated with North Sumatran Malays.

Once Soneta was established in the early 70's, Oma changed his name to Rhoma and went on a decade long run of successful hit records and films, all of which starred Rhoma playing himself while performing all of his hits. He wrote the classics "Kareta Malam" and "Kuda Lumping" which were sung by Elvy Sukaesih.

Performing live, he adopted many of the props of stadium rock, including large audiences, powerful soundsystems, complex sets, fireworks, flashing lights, and smoke machines.

Haji[link]

Following his 1975 hajj, he took the name Rhoma Irama, which is an abbreviation of "Raden Haji Oma Irama" (Raden is an aristocracy title for Javanese and Sundanese cultures). Following this pilgrimage, he took on a more explicitly Islamic moral tone, adopting Islamic dress, shorter hairstyles, and ejecting band members who consumed alcohol or had extra-marital sex. He also resolved that his music should instruct, and not merely entertain, a form of jihad waged through music. Themes in his music included extra-marital sex, government corruption, drugs, and gambling.^[3] The song haram for instance, warns against both drugs and gambling.

Rhoma Irama campaigned for Islamic party PPP from 1977 to 1982, and as a result he was banned from state television and radio by the Suharto regime, which was at that time enforcing separation of religion and state, and some of his songs were also banned from sale. The ban was lifted in 1988, and with Suharto himself moving towards Islam in the 1990s, dangdut became of the establishment.

His 1982 movie Perjuangan dan Doa (Struggle and Prayer) as described as the world's first Islamic rock musical movie.

In recent years Rhoma Irama has campaigned against Inul Daratista a dangdut star popular for her suggestive dancing, acting as head of composers' union PIMMA to ban her from singing any of their compositions.

Discography[link]

Pre Soneta[link]

• Djangan Kau Marah
• Di Rumah Sadja
• Di Dalam Bemo
• Biarkan Aku Pergi
• Anak Pertama
• Djenggo
• In Dan Dip
• Pemburu

With OM Soneta[link]

• Dangdut
• Surat Terakhir
• Berbulan Madu
• Gelandangan
• Joget
• Janda Kembang
• Tiada Lagi

With Soneta Group (Volume Series)[link]

• Soneta Vol-1 Begadang (1973)
• Soneta Vol-2 Penasaran (1974)
• Soneta Vol-3 Rupiah (1975)
• Soneta Vol-4 Darah Muda (1975)
• Soneta Vol-5 Musik (1976)
• Soneta Vol-6 135.000.000 (1977)
• Soneta Vol-7 Santai (1977)
• Soneta Vol-8 Hak Azazi (1978)
• Soneta Vol-9 Begadang 2 (1979)
• Soneta Vol-10 Sahabat (1980)
• Soneta Vol-11 Indonesia (1980)
• Soneta Vol-12 Renungan Dalam Nada (1981)
• Soneta Vol-13 Emansipasi Wanita (1983)
• Soneta Vol-14 Judi (1989)
• Soneta Vol-15 Gali Lobang Tutup Lobang (1989)
• Soneta Vol-16 Bujangan (1994)

Movie Soundtrack Albums[link]

• Oma Irama Penasaran
• Gitar Tua Oma Irama
• Darah Muda
• Begadang
• Berkelana I
• Berkelana II
• Raja Dangdut
• Camelia
• Cinta Segitiga
• Perjuangan dan Doa
• Melodi Cinta
• Badai di Awal Bahagia
• Sebuah Pengorbanan
• Cinta Kembar
• Pengabdian
• Satria Bergitar
• Kemilau Cinta di Langit Jingga
• Menggapai Matahari I
• Menggapai Matahari II
• Nada-Nada Rindu
• Bunga Desa
• Jaka Swara
• Nada dan Dakwah
• Tabir Biru
• Dawai 2 Asmara

Rhoma Irama Solo Albums[link]

• Pemilu (1982)
• Lebaran (1984)
• Persaingan (1986)
• Haji (1988)
• Modern (1989)
• Haram (1990)
• Salawat Nabi (1991)
• Kehilangan Tongkat (1993)
• Rana Duka (1994)
• Stress (1995)
• Baca (1995)
• Viva Dangdut 1996
• Mirasantika (1997)
• Reformasi (1998)
• Euforia (2000)
• Syahdu (2001)
• Asmara (2003)
• Jana Jana (2008)
• Azza(2010)

Filmography[link]

• Oma Irama Penasaran (1976)
• Gitar Tua Oma Irama (1977)
• Darah Muda (1977)
• Rhoma Irama Berkelana I (1978)
• Rhoma Irama Berkelana II (1978)
• Begadang (1978)
• Raja Dangdut (1978)
• Cinta Segitiga (1979)
• Camelia (1979)
• Perjuangan dan Doa (1980)
• Melody Cinta Rhoma Irama (1980)
• Badai di Awal Bahagia (1981)
• Sebuah Pengorbanan (1982)
• Satria Bergitar (1984)
• Pengabdian (1984)
• Kemilau Cinta di Langit Jingga (1985)
• Menggapai Matahari I (1986)
• Menggapai Matahari II (1986)
• Nada-nada Rindu (1987)
• Bunga Desa (1988)
• Jaka Swara (1990)
• Nada dan Dakwah (1991)
• Tabir Biru (1994)
• Dawai 2 Asmara (2010)
• Sajadah Ka'bah (2011)

References[link]

External links[link]

• "Hips Don't Lie: A pop singer and a potentially violent culture war in the world's biggest Muslim state.", "The Wall Street Journal", April 3, 2007