Hanefi Nafi

Hanefi Nafi

was born in 1955 in Bukittinggi (West Sumatra). After his studies at the art academy STSI (Sekolah Tinggi Seni Indonesia) in Padangpanjang, West Sumatra and at the university USU in Medan, North Sumatra, he taught at the art academy STSI Padangpanjang. He was subsequently involved in numerous ethno-musicological research projects. As early as the 1980s, Hanefi started to make a name for himself as a composer. His close collaboration with the internationally renowned choreographer Gusmiati Suid from West Sumatra was particularly influential on his work. In 1999 he gave a guest performance in Germany with his ensemble at the time. Hanefi’s music is clearly influenced by the musical culture of Minangkabau.

“In West Sumatra, the dichotomy between the collective and the individual and between tradition and modernism exists, of course, but most things take place below the surface. Our problem for a long time was the fact that contemporary music was being developed by amateurs who were then accused of having destroyed traditions. Since the 1990s, however, the situation has improved somewhat.” Hanefi Nafi