The Wikimedia Jakarta Community and private broadcaster Bens Radio 106.2 FM have officially partnered to record and document the Betawi language, launching the WikiUmrup project to preserve local vocabulary in digital archives. Nine members of the community attended a recording of the station’s “Kamus Betawi” (Betawi Dictionary) program, laying the groundwork for ongoing audio and text archiving.
From Driver’s Radio Habit to Cultural Partnership
The collaboration took shape after community members frequently listened to Bens Radio while driving. Founded by the legendary Betawi cultural icon H. Benyamin Sueb, the station commands a loyal listenership of 1.5 million people in the Jabodetabek area. The broadcast’s consistent focus on Betawi language and culture prompted volunteers to consider how on-air vocabulary could live beyond standard broadcasts. This led to the WikiUmrup project, drawing its name from the Betawi word “umrup”—absorbed from the Dutch term “omroep,” meaning broadcasting.
In May 2025, volunteers visited the Bens Radio office to pitch the idea of joining forces. Station representatives welcomed the proposal because the broadcaster already aired “Kamus Betawi,” an educational program highlighting Betawi language lemmas and usage examples. With backing from Wikimedia Indonesia, the two organizations formalized the partnership by signing a memorandum of understanding.
Did You Know? The project’s name, “WikiUmrup,” stems from the Betawi word “umrup,” which was absorbed from the Dutch word “omroep” to mean broadcast or broadcasting.
Recording and editing audio for broadcast
Technical preparations began with material curation by Bang Rapip, a native Betawi speaker and Wikimedia volunteer who ensured the content adhered strictly to language rules. Studio recording sessions commenced in October 2026 under the direction of the Head of Bens Radio, Bang Kevin and announcer Mpok Bunga. Producers add background music and edit the audio to meet standard broadcast durations before segments air.
Beyond radio waves, the project secures the language in the digital sphere. Vocabularies and phrases featured in “Kamus Betawi” are slated for structural documentation in WikiKamus (Wiktionary). Meanwhile, volunteer voice recordings will be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons so global users can access native pronunciations and everyday usage examples freely and permanently.
Expert Insight: Cross-sector collaborations between open knowledge volunteers and traditional broadcast media offer a practical defense against language shift, ensuring regional tongues remain part of the public sphere rather than fading away.
Expanding Regional Language Preservation
Regional languages worldwide face severe pressure from modernization and dominant global languages, and Jakarta is no exception. As native speakers increasingly shift away from daily use of the Betawi language, digital documentation serves as a critical shield for oral heritage. Organizers note that protecting a mother tongue does not require working in isolation. Partnerships connecting volunteer movements with broadcasters create efficient avenues for reaching native speakers and introducing broader audiences to open knowledge platforms.
Further recording sessions are scheduled to take place over the coming months as the partnership continues to capture audio entries for both broadcast and digital preservation.
Archiving Betawi vocabulary on Wikimedia Commons and WikiKamus
What is the WikiUmrup project?
WikiUmrup is a collaborative initiative between the Wikimedia Jakarta Community and Bens Radio 106.2 FM designed to record, broadcast, and digitally archive Betawi language vocabulary.
Who founded Bens Radio?
The radio station was founded by H. Benyamin Sueb, a legendary Betawi cultural icon.
Where will the voice recordings be stored?
The volunteer voice recordings will be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons for permanent public access, while words and phrases will be documented in WikiKamus.
Related reading