JAKARTA -- Jokes are usually intended to be funny, but humor is not always the only goal -- especially in Indonesia, where satire is emerging as a powerful political tool in the performances of popular comedians.
Indonesians are increasingly keen on comedy, which is the most favored genre among listeners to podcasts. According to Spotify, an online streaming platform, comedy downloads grew by 91% in the four years to 2023. There has also been a boom in satire, exemplified by the three-person group Trio Netizen, which features Ekky Parigayung, Sandi Sukron Munawar and Rio Saputra using gags to criticize politicians and policies.
