BOGOR —-— Dompet Dhuafa has once again organized an “Inspiration Sharing Class” for students at SMART Ekselensia Indonesia. This time, the event featured renowned Indonesian musicians: Tantri Syalindri, lead vocalist of the band Kotak, and her husband, Hatna Danarda (Arda), former lead vocalist of the band Naff.
Held at the SMART Ekselensia Digital Library Building in Parung, Bogor, on Monday (March 9, 2026), the event aimed to provide academic motivation and encouragement to the students as they plan their futures after graduation.
During the session, Tantri and Arda shared the long journey of launching their careers in the music industry. They revealed that the path to success was fraught with twists and turns.
Tantri recalled a difficult time when her father suffered a stroke. At that point, she was unsure about the direction of her future.
“At that time, I was confused about whether I should work or stay focused on the music world. I even helped sell nasi uduk with my mother,” she said.
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However, thanks to her family’s support and her love for music, Tantri chose to remain steadfast in pursuing her dream. That decision paid off when she was eventually selected as the lead vocalist for the band Kotak.
“I’m so grateful, but even though I’m now the lead singer of the band Kotak, I realize that the learning process never stops,” she added.
Like his wife, Arda also hit rock bottom when his mother passed away. He lost his way for a while and helped his parents with their business. It was his determination that eventually brought Arda back to focusing on music until he was offered the role of lead singer for Naff.
To wrap up the sharing session, both speakers urged the students of SMART Ekselensia to use their education as a bridge to success. They emphasized the importance of consistency, gratitude, self-confidence, and responsibility in achieving their aspirations.
The excitement reached its peak when the students sang along to Kotak’s song Beraksi. In addition to sharing their experiences on stage, Tantri and Arda also visited the dormitories, classrooms, and the school’s waste management center and Eco Enzyme Bank facilities. Tantri expressed her pride at being able to witness firsthand the quality of the learning environment there.
“This Dompet Dhuafa initiative allows us to see things firsthand. Until now, we’d only caught glimpses through social media, but now we can meet these amazing kids in person,” said Tantri.
Arda added that educational programs like this must be fully supported.
“They are the intelligent future leaders of the nation. With Dompet Dhuafa’s help, they have a bright future ahead. We must support this wholeheartedly,” he emphasized.
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At the end of the visit, Tantri encouraged the community not to hesitate to set aside a portion of their income by paying zakat through Dompet Dhuafa.
“Insha’Allah, this trust will be distributed properly. Let’s pay zakat, because Paying Zakat Is the Way!” she concluded.
The Director of SMART Ekselensia Indonesia, Zayd Sayfullah, expressed his deep appreciation for the presence of the two musicians. He hoped their visit would serve as a source of inspiration for the 12th-grade students, such as Aidil Adha, who found the message deeply touching.
“The vibe was relaxed and energetic, but the message still hit home. Thank you, Kak Tantri and Kak Arda, for taking the time; this has been very beneficial for us,” concluded Aidil, the student from West Sumatra.
SMART Ekselensia is a flagship school initiated and managed by Dompet Dhuafa through GREAT Edunesia as the Program Implementation Partner (PIP) for Education. It exists to provide access to quality education for high-achieving children from underprivileged families across Indonesia. Therefore, SMART aims to be a model school that produces graduates with Islamic character, a leadership spirit, independence, excellence, and practical skills. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Moh Reynaldi Risahondua
Editor: Dhika