Page 33 - JaKita 08st Edition 2021

ART & CULTURE 33

Akeke, a Betawi tra-
ditional ceremony of
naming and shaving
the hair of a newborn
baby.

*) Photo was taken
before COVID-19
pandemic.
Credit:
Safran H.

should cut the goat which has been cooked into powder each other’s hands. The end of the first step
several kind of dishes, and prepare a gift which will be of akeke is marked when the midwife returns home,
given to the midwife or shaman during the ceremony. with provision of the kobobok money (coins from the
To conduct the shaving ceremony, the family needs bowl) and food packages.
to prepare several things beforehand: the flower
water, a tray (decorated with flags of banknotes), The next step of akeke is shaving the baby’s hair. It is
scissors and a coconut. usually led by an ulama (Muslim cleric) or an elder.
While reading shalawat, the baby will be carried
The guests should prepare the money they would around the guests to have his hair shaved by each of
give to the baby. The Betawinese calls it nyempal, the guest. The hair will be weighed and the amount
means to tuck money on the baby’s shoulder, to help of it will be converted into gold or money that the
the family to buy the baby’s need. “Today, nyempal parents should give to the orphans or the poor.
ceremony is changed to giving things for the baby,”
explained Yahya. After the step is done, the guests are expected to
enjoy the meal. They will also be provided with berkat
The first step for akeke is the scrape hands ceremony, (rice box) before returning home, which includes
starts with the reading of shalawat to accompany the rice with side dishes like semur (beef stew), pesmol
washing hands of mother and the shaman (midwife) bandeng (fried fish in yellow sauce), perkedel (corn
using water inside a bowl with coins. or potato fritters), serundeng (shredded coconut),
gulai buncis and emping, not to forget the goat gulai
Then, the midwife would pick up a coin from inside wrapped in teak leaves. The provision of rice box has
the bowl and start to scrape the hands of the meaning to give prayers for each other.
mother until the seventh shalawat is finished. When
the step is done, they will both dry their hands and sya

8th EDITION 2021
Sarana Informasi Pemerintah Provinsi DKI Jakarta