Zeffry Alkatiri (Author) Zeffry Alkatiri was born in Jakarta in 1959 and raised in a multicultural (Arab-Betawi) family. He has a B.A. in Russian Studies, a M.A. in American Studies, and a PhD in History. He writes both fiction and non-fiction, focusing on the socio-cultural history of Jakarta. He is the recipient of several prestigious literary awards.