Youth, Ojeg and Urban Space in Ternate

Abstract

This article investigates young men's experiences in a recently introduced mode of transport, called ojeg (motorcycle taxi), in an urban island town. The paper explores questions of how the social and spatial dynamics of ojeg drivers, who are linked to different types of ojeg stations (pangkalan), are shaped by, but also influence, local affairs and the business of an alternative transport system. Social and spatial dynamics are key factors that influence the daily life of the ojeg drivers. The ojeg world has actively mediated the meaning of public spaces for these young men who experience some degree of freedom, and are able to build a sense of solidarity, but at the same time become political instruments.

Keywords:

• Ojeg
• Pangkalan
• Motorcycle Taxis
• Urban Space
• Youth Identity and Mobility
• North Maluku
• Indonesia
• Mobility
• Territory

Acknowledgement

I am indebted to the ojeg drivers and ojeg businessman in Ternate who do not appear with their original names in this article, as well as Abdullah Ismail, Annemarie Samuels, Bang Naid Husen, Ben White, Chris Brown, Dahlan Malagapi, David Kombako, Ewin (Malut Post), Gerry van Klinken, Herman Oesman, Irman Saleh, Ilham Badar, Isnaeni ‘Katti’, Mas Gie, Patricia Spyer, Pudjo Semedi, Rahmat (Pilas), Ratna Saptari, Richard Fraser, Suzanne Naafs, Tauhid Arief, Wawan and the anonymous reviewers and editors of the TAPJA. The research of this article was made possible by the generous support of the joint research project ‘Middle Indonesia’ of KITLV/KNAW in the Netherlands.

Notes

1. Women in Ternate use ojeg mainly for transportation rather than as a job although in May 2008 I found three women drivers, internally displaced from Tobelo (North Halmahera), who operated in the central market of Gamalama, but they preferred women passengers. Women passengers tend to ask male drivers to drive slowly.

2. For recent literature on regional issues, local politics and communal conflict in the North Maluku region, see (Claire 2009; Klinken 2007; Wilson 2008).

3. Rival Fahmi, Okezone, 8 April 2009 at http://pemilu.okezone.com/image/template/tools/text.gif (accessed 10 August, 2009).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Basri Amin

Basri Amin is a Ph.D. researcher in the Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology