Berti Sumaraw: The Legacy of Maka’aruyen in Raringis

Berti Sumaraw is very well known in his village, Raringis, Langowan.

He is not known because he ran as a legislative candidate in the last election. No.

He is a farmer. Known as a great farmer.

Sometimes he works as a laborer in other people’s gardens. At other times, he collects bamboo from the forest to sell. Most of the bamboo is sold to fishermen or fish pond entrepreneurs around Lake Tondano.

It is from this work that he was able to send 4 out of his 5 children to university.

He believes that living through hard work—cultivating nature and making use of its results—can provide life and livelihood. His hard work and success have made him known not only in his village, Raringis, but also in nearby villages such as Ampreng.

In addition to his perseverance in work and his success in educating his children, he is also known to be very skilled in Minahasan traditional music, Maka’aruyen.

After my visit to Ampreng some time ago, my friends Deddy Milanno Sarayar and Indra Congregations Piri became very enthusiastic. They continued searching for information and the whereabouts of Maka’aruyen artists in their village, even in other villages across Langowan.

I admire them.

Both of them are indeed movers among the youth in Ampreng. At present, they, along with many other young people in Ampreng, are actively working to revive customs, arts, and traditions that had begun to fade. Remarkable.

Their search for Maka’aruyen artists led them to meet Om Berti, a Maka’aruyen artist from Raringis.

Raringis is a village neighboring Ampreng. Raringis means “bapaser.” The word Raringis is often heard from the older generation, for example in expressions like: “Raringis oka e’.”

Berti Sumaraw, in Raringis, is indeed known to be highly skilled in Maka’aruyen. Not only in his playing, but he often performs Maka’aruyen with the guitar placed behind his neck.

He is now 65 years old. Since the age of 17, he has been playing Maka’aruyen. He learned by himself. Practiced by himself. Using his ears. Then finding the tuning and melodies of Maka’aruyen songs.

Today’s generation may be more fortunate than he was in learning. There are many videos of Kalelon Maka’aruyen artists that have been documented and uploaded online, which can serve as learning resources. Learning and practicing have become easier.

Now he only plays Maka’aruyen melodies. In the past, when his brother Frans Sumaraw was still alive, they often performed together. Om Berti played Maka’aruyen, while Om Frans sang. His brother, the late Om Frans, was also known as a Maka’aruyen artist even in Ampreng village.

Om Berti’s ability in Maka’aruyen was once paired with a Maka’aruyen artist from Tompaso Baru, Max Timbuleng. A Maka’aruyen duel, around 1974.

Yesterday afternoon (July 1, 2019), after activities on campus, I headed to Ampreng. Together with the young people of Ampreng, we went to meet Om Berti—the legendary Tou Raringis.

He turned out to be a simple and shy person. When we met him at his house, he was still hesitant to play. But once he started, it turned out he knew many Maka’aruyen songs. He played many songs, some of which I recorded on video.

He has a guitar. It looks old. He said that guitar has accompanied him—even until before he sleeps. When he is about to sleep, he places the guitar above his head, then plucks Maka’aruyen melodies until he falls asleep. That is what one of his family members told us.

Berti Sumaraw not only teaches about hard work as a Tou Minahasa, but his persistence in learning Maka’aruyen should be followed by today’s generation.

Hopefully, more Maka’aruyen artists from Raringis will emerge. Likewise, the young people of Raringis—may they be eager to learn again the traditional arts of their village.

Ampreng and Raringis have already begun. Now we wait for other villages in Langowan to step forward—to maintain and preserve their traditional arts.