Bila Bali di Tangan Bule: If Bali Were Held By Bules (translation)

This reflective commentary explores the powerful impact of a performance by Sekaha Gong Sekar Jaya, a California-based group of non-Balinese musicians devoted to Balinese gamelan. Their skill and sensitivity triggered both admiration and self-doubt among local audiences, highlighting a cultural paradox: Balinese arts are often only fully appreciated by locals once they are embraced by foreigners. The piece raises concerns about generational disconnection from traditional music and critiques the tendency to value one’s heritage only after it is validated by outsiders.