THE EDITOR – Kemiren Village, Glagah Sub-district, Banyuwangi is one of the traditional villages known for its diverse customs and cultural arts. Currently, Kemiren Village is commemorating its 167th anniversary by holding various attractions typical of Osing (indigenous people of Banyuwangi) culture.
Various traditions of the ancestral heritage of local villagers were displayed for two days in front of the Kemiren Village Office on 5 and 6 November 2024. These include a cultural parade showcasing the rich arts and traditions of Kemiren Village, a village celebration with pecel pitik, the culinary speciality of the Osing people, and continued with hadrah and mocopatan or often referred to as reading Lontar Yusuf all night long.
“On this year’s Anniversary, all the potential and richness of Kemiren’s traditions are deliberately displayed. This is an effort to preserve the culture, as well as to boost the economy of the residents. By continuing to introduce village traditions, we hope that more tourists will visit our village,” said Kemiren Village Head Mohammad Arifin.
It is known that the Osing Traditional Tourism Village is a complete destination. The village, which is not far from the centre of Banyuwangi City, has natural beauty, charming arts, and a culture that has been maintained for generations. The tourist village has received certification as a Sustainable Tourism Village in 2021 from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.
If you come to this village, you will be presented with various tourist attractions such as education, culinary, and culture. Kampoeng Osing Market, Pesantogan Kemangi food stall, and the Osing traditional house area are ready to pamper tourists.
The cultural arts attractions and the thick traditions that coexist make for a memorable tourist experience.
In this village, the existence of Gandrung is so inherent, because in addition to the tourism mascot and welcome dance, it cannot be separated from the work of Gandrung maestro Temu who is native to Kemiren Village. There is also burdah, angklung paglak, and mocoan lontar yusup as one of the intangible cultural heritage.
To provide a sense of security and comfort for tourists, Arifin is committed to continuing to improve adequate tourism support infrastructure.
“We will prepare toilets, accommodation, and souvenirs that meet the standards. So that visitors feel comfortable coming to Kemiren,” he said.
The 167th Anniversary of Kemiren Traditional Village will be closed with the tradition of drinking coffee together in the Ngopi Sepuluh Ewu Festival (Ten Thousand Coffees Festival)
“We will hold this festival on Wednesday night (6/11) after sunset. Don’t miss the excitement of having coffee with thousands of visitors along the streets of Kemiren village,” Arifin said.
The coffee tradition of the people of Kemiren Village is not limited to enjoying the brewing of coffee beans. However, there is a philosophical message contained in each cup. With a cup of coffee, it can unite differences and strengthen the bond of brotherhood.
“This is a tradition of our villagers to maintain brotherhood,” he said.
In this festival, thousands of cups of coffee with the same decoration along with typical Kemiren snacks will be served along the streets of Kemiren Village. The coffee is a symbol of a warm welcome to visiting guests. Attending the festival, visitors can enjoy coffee drinks and snacks for free.
