Coloring Children\'s Lives with Fairy Tales
Children frequently fall victim in a conflict or disaster. In the midst of the pain M Sabir HL, 54, was called upon to tell stories that could lighten their moods.
Children frequently fall victim in a conflict or disaster. In the midst of the pain M Sabir HL, 54, was called upon to tell stories that could lighten their moods. For decades he toured East Kalimantan to tell stories to children.
In mid-2000 Sabir visited Central Kalimantan to learn about theater. Not long after his arrival riots broke out at several points in Sampit, Central Kalimantan. He saw a fire engulfing houses, vehicles and various items on the roadside.
Many people fled. Sabir saw the children hugging their mothers. Many children cried. Sabir’s heart broke at the sight.
“I was really sad to see the look on the children’s faces," he said in Samarinda, some time ago.
Sabir wanted to do something with his capabilities. With his theater background, he wanted to reduce the burden on children. He told stories in evacuation pockets or settlements where many children lived.
When the situation returned to normal, Sabir returned to Samarinda. After storytelling in conflict areas, Sabir felt he had found a calling. He began his journey from city to city in East Kalimantan to tell stories.
Until now Sabir does the storytelling both voluntarily and commercially. For social activities, he can tell stories happily. When conducting storytelling at a school, the school often gives him money for transportation costs. Some companies have also invited him to do storytelling.
When telling stories, Sabir introduces folklore he collected through books, interviews and the internet. Whenever he comes to a place, he will find out the origin of the place\'s name and summarize it into a story. He wants the children to know about stories that have been developed in their hometowns.
Sabir hopes that through interesting storytelling, the message reaches children or anyone who hears it. When he was interviewed, Sabir wore a black hat. His beard has begun to turn white. Some of his front teeth are missing.
Expressions like that were displayed when he conducted the storytelling.
Seeing Sabir talking was like watching a show. Even though he did not move much, his face was very expressive. When telling a melancholy story, his eyes glazed and his lips were bent. When expressing joy, his eyes were wide open, and so were his lips. Expressions like that were displayed when he conducted the storytelling.
When performing, he brought a storytelling utensils, made of newspapers, cardboard, or unused wood. He modified them in such a way that they became a performance property that could arouse children\'s imagination.
Meaningful
Sabir learned from the Malaysian cartoon series, Upin and Ipin. Many small thing seep into the heads of children from the cartoon. He gave an example of greetings that are often said by Upin, Ipin, and his friends: "Good morning, cikgu". He saw, many children said it while playing.
Greetings like that are very simple, but meaningful. Only from performances, children can follow something. From greetings, simple conversations can continue. In the future, the relationship can continue and can be beneficial.
He had a memorable experience after conducting the storytelling. Three years ago Sabir was approached by a teacher and a blind child. The boy said to Sabir, "Can you hold his face, uncle?"
Of course Sabir allowed him to do it. Apparently, the child had never touched the faces of his father and mother because they had died when he was a toddler. The child was grateful because Sabir had told Batu Menangis (Crying Stone), a fairy tale from Kalimantan, which told about an ungodly child to his mother.
"The child remembered his mother. He said, he was afraid of being ungodly and wanted to pray for his parents," said Sabir.
If there is a problem, he hopes that children will continue to act modest but meaningful.
Sabir was grateful to little things that were quite memorable for the children. It turns out that the fairytale has unexpected echoes. He wanted the children\'s mind to continue to be filled with simple things so as to enable them to grow up without burden. If there is a problem, he hopes that children will continue to act modest but meaningful.
Until now Sabir is still driving around from area to area in East Kalimantan, carrying the name Pondok Dongeng Kaltim. Sometimes he invited local artists to collaborate and help prepare the show. When he felt that everything was already enough, he returned home to meet his wife and children. Although storytelling does not always bring in money, Sabir believed that sincere deeds will always have room.
In addition to conducting storytelling from school to school, Sabir also often fills regional cultural activities and is a presenter of fairy tale workshops for children. According to him, it is good for the children to learn the art of storytelling in front of the public to exercise self-confidence.
"I think, space for children to appear in public is still lacking in East Kalimantan. In fact, children also need it as a space for learning communication in public. Therefore, I am happy when I had the chance to speak in a fairy tale workshop," he said.
Sabir is still waiting for time and collecting money to realize his dream.
Sabir also used to make a solo performance. Because of his consistency with storytelling, Sabir\'s audience is not only children, but also adults. Now Sabir still has a dream that has not been achieved, namely doing storytelling in the interior of Kalimantan and making a fairy tale cart. Conducting storytelling to the interior parts of Kalimantan requires significant transportation costs. Sabir is still waiting for time and collecting money to realize his dream.
Meanwhile, the concept of a fairy tale cart that he wants to make is a cart containing various kinds of books, projectors, computers, and other fairytale stuffs. The cart can later be used by anyone who needs fairytale utensils.
There is a creed that is held by Sabir so that he remains consistent with storytelling until now: children are the nation\'s assets. With all his limitations, he wants to contribute to color the mind of children through fun stories so that children can grow with an independent and meaningful imagination.
M Sabir HL
Born: Parepare, South Sulawesi, 17 Dec. 1965
Wife: Reldha Tasrief, 55
Daughter: Arnila, 19
Education: SD Islam Aljawahir Samarinda state elementary school (graduated in 1980)
Achievement:
- Winner of poetry reading in East Kalimantan (1995)
- Winner of monoplay drama competition in East Kalimantan (1990)
- Winner of storytelling contest throughout East Kalimantan (1990)