Kupang, Indonesia - SASANDO MUSIC - 1 of 3

We were welcomed in a BIG way to Kupang, Indonesia on Timor Island. It is the city closest to Australia (capital of the province), and with a population of 475,000. This was historically a strategic port for Pottugese and Dutch. With a history of trade and colonial rivalry, it was part of local Timorese kingdoms and a trading hub for sandalwood, attracting merchants from China, India, and the Malay world. And then the Europeans came. In the 16th century, the Portuguese then in the 17th century, the Dutch East India Company too control, making a military base to counter the Portuguese. Unfortunately, in World War II, Kupang was occupied by Japan until Indonesia’s independence in 1945, when Kupang became a regional center for government, education, and trade in eastern Indonesia.

Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara (Indonesia), has a history shaped by trade, colonial rivalry, and regional exchange. Before European arrival, it was part of local Timorese kingdoms and a trading hub for sandalwood, attracting merchants from China, India, and the Malay world. In the 16th century, the Portuguese established influence in Timor, including Kupang. By the mid-17th century, the Dutch East India Company seized control, making Kupang a key administrative and military base to counter Portuguese power. The city developed as a colonial outpost with a diverse population, including Europeans, Chinese, and local groups. During World War II, Kupang was occupied by Japan. After Indonesia’s independence in 1945, Kupang became part of the new republic and later grew into a regional center for government, education, and trade in eastern Indonesia.

This is the island we talked about in an earlier post as where Captain Bligh ended up after the mutiny and his sent off in a small boat (yes, he survived). We had a tour here that took us all over the island to see what life is like here today. One fun story was to see the making and playing of the Sasando. The sasando (meaning vibrating) is a harp-like string instrument built around a tube to echo the sound and hold the strings out at different distances to make different sounds. The fan resonates the sound. This instrument has been used since the 7th century. (4 videos)Read more