Kroncong
The earliest style of popular music in Indonesia is kroncong, a reference to the sound of a small lute typically used in the ensemble. This instrument was brought to the islands by Portuguese sailors during the sixteenth century and became popular among the lower classes in the major seaport of Jakarta (formerly known as Batavia). This racially diverse population included people from the various parts of the globe where Portuguese sailors commonly traveled. Indian, African, Chinese, and European peoples mixed with one another and with the indigenous population to create a cosmopolitan city that has become one of the largest urban areas in the world, boasting more than 23 million inhabitants.