How Story Teller Awam Prakoso Competes with Social Media

Well-known storyteller Awam Prakoso talks with host Ivy Batuta about his 25-year-long experience as a storyteller. Awam accidentally began his career in 1999 in a bus terminal after he lost his job in a private bank during the financial crisis in Indonesia.

“At that time, I was in a very crowded bus terminal before the Idul Fitri. Hundreds of parents with their children felt bored because they had to wait for hours for the arrival of their buses. My friends suggested I to show off my ability to imitate many voices. The children liked my performance. After that, I became a professional storyteller.”

Awam divides storytelling into three types. First is a parenting-related fairytale; Second is a classical fairytale, often used by teachers to pupils and students in kindergartens, and elementary schools; Third, fairytales for entertaining purpose on the stage with a larger audience.

“Children often fail to be obedient but rarely fail to imitate. Tell the children information or wisdom in entertaining way. They will remember it longer than advice from teachers or parents,” Awam shares his experience.

Literacy is not just about writing and reading, but also encouraging children to listen, process and practice what they learn from the fairytales. Then they share their new experience with their friends and even families.

One good example of literacy is the experience of children traveling by plane. They will share their experience with their children who never use air transportation.

A fairytale is a powerful imagination picnic for kids. They do not just learn literacy but also enable them to re-tell the story they heard with more articulative power. We develop new storytelling style by readjusting ourselves with different natural resources. Storytelling adopts local culture and local wisdom. We have a strong storytelling culture. We just need to adjust it to local tradition.

Storyteller also plays the role of influencers in social media platforms and local schools. Local governments often invite us to collaborate in schools.

Did you feel sidelined by the massive social media presence? And how do you deal with the new challenges in your business?

Not all children have easy access to social media due to their age. Then, we provide content for the kids by their age and education needs. Can his profession survive amid the massive presence of social media?

He never feels demoralized by the social media platforms. “We remain competitive in creating content for playgroups, kindergartens and elementary schools. We take benefits from the digitalization. So, we never reject their presence. We must outsmart them by becoming content creators. Many of my content goes viral and boosts my followers. Children love my content so much.”

In 2009, Awam developed the Kampung Dongeng, and, together with colleagues and activists, he developed various programs, including training, in the community. Now, Indonesia has more than 550 storytellers. The community now has 200 branches in 27 provinces across the country. Storytelling activity still plays an important role in entertaining and educating children.

What does he do to attract children’s attention? The storyteller is very good at imitating the noise of various animals, such as chickens, birds, horses, robots, and helicopters.

Now, he is one of the most popular storytellers. He regularly receives invitations from regional governments and institutions to perform in schools or other places, such as refugee centers.

Watch the full episode here: