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๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Indonesia /Culture & Society

Afgan's 18-Year Music Journey Celebrated in Jakarta Retrospective Concert

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Afgan, an Indonesian pop singer, held a retrospective concert in Jakarta celebrating 18 years in the music industry.
  • The three-hour concert featured 30 songs with new orchestral arrangements, tracing his career from debut to more personal later works.
  • Afgan revealed he lost his voice three days before the show due to sinus and stomach issues but performed with full effort, thanking fans for their support.

Thousands of fans packed the Plenary Hall at the Jakarta Convention Center on Saturday, July 18, 2026, for "Retrospektif: The Concert." The solo show marked 18 years of Afgan's music career in Indonesia.

The concert, lasting about three hours, showcased 30 curated songs from his extensive catalog. Performed with new arrangements and orchestral backing, the setlist traced Afgan's journey from his early days to his more recent work, where he began infusing his life experiences into his music. The show's visual and lighting design complemented this narrative, with LED screens displaying evolving illustrations and lighting shifts to match each segment's theme.

Despite the seamless performance, Afgan shared a personal struggle with the audience: he had lost his voice just three days prior due to a combination of sinus and stomach problems affecting his vocal cords. He expressed concern that the months of preparation might be jeopardized but managed to recover enough to perform. "Maybe tonight I won't be perfect, but I will give 100 million percent of myself," he told the cheering crowd, acknowledging their unwavering support throughout his career.

The concert also featured collaborations with notable musicians, including Petra Sihombing, who produced Afgan's "Retrospektif" album. Their performance of "Tak Ada Rencana" was a highlight, adding another layer to the evening's celebration of Afgan's musical evolution.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.