S04 E02: Empat Sekawan

LAUT LOUD (((~~~)))

LAUT LOUD (((~~~)))

Their performances last all night, more akin to a variety show than concert, with frequent song interruptions to deliver

witty jokes, risqué anecdotes, or perform acrobatics that seem to defy the laws of physics.

From the shorelines of Pare-Pare, the lush fields of Sidrap, to the mountains of Pinrang, their presence is awaited on every occasion. At each circumcision ceremony, wedding, or roof-raising ritual, it seems like no South Sulawesi party is complete without the arrival of Empat Sekawan.

Empat Sekawan’s charms are less known outside of South Sulawesi. This is hyper-local culture, with lyrics riffing on regional folklore, stories of village life, and ribald humor, accompanied by the kecapi, a home-made string instrument electrified to be blast from speaker horns at maximum decibels.

For Laut Loud in Pare-Pare, South Sulawesi, Empat Sekawan brought a more laid back & intimate performance, but still had the crew falling off their chairs. Don't start the party without them.