Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The Indonesian Ministry of Culture (Kemenbud) is set to host the 2024 Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Festival to promote and preserve 13 cultural elements recognized by UNESCO. The week-long event will take place from November 23-28 at the Museum Benteng Vredeburg in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Culture Minister Fadli Zon emphasized the festival’s role in showcasing Indonesia’s rich intangible cultural heritage on the global stage. “This initiative aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to position culture as a central paradigm in Indonesia’s national development strategy,” Fadli stated on Saturday, November 23, 2024.
Under the theme “Indonesia Towards the World’s Cultural Capital,” the festival will feature a variety of activities, including cultural performances, exhibitions, workshops on traditional practices like Saman dance, pencak silat, and jamu-making, as well as seminars on wayang and keris. Notably, a collection of wayang puppets and keris owned by Fadli Zon will also be on display.
One highlight of the festival is the fusion of traditional and modern elements. A performance titled “Sang Dewaruci” will combine traditional wayang puppetry—encompassing wayang kulit, wayang golek, and wayang orang—with cutting-edge video mapping technology.
“Times are changing, and it’s essential to adapt to the digital world,” Fadli explained. “Incorporating technology ensures that wayang storytelling remains relevant, appealing, and accessible to younger generations.”
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Despite the integration of digital elements, the performances will retain their traditional essence, preserving the moral and ethical lessons intrinsic to wayang. “While we adapt, the core values of these art forms remain intact,” Fadli added.
Bridging Past, Present, and Future
Fadli expressed his hope that this blend of technology and tradition would inspire audiences and highlight the evolving, adaptive nature of Indonesia’s cultural expressions.
“It’s vital to understand our cultural identity to navigate the future effectively. The past, present, and future are interconnected bridges that should never be severed,” he said.
UNESCO-Recognized Cultural Heritage
Indonesia’s 13 UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage elements to be celebrated at the festival include:
- Wayang (traditional puppetry)
- Keris (ceremonial dagger)
- Batik
- Batik education and training (2009)
- Angklung (bamboo musical instrument)
- Saman dance
- Noken bags
- Three genres of Balinese dance
- Pinisi boatbuilding tradition
- Pencak Silat martial arts
- Pantun (traditional poetry)
- Gamelan (traditional orchestra)
- Jamu (traditional herbal medicine)
The festival underscores Indonesia’s commitment to preserving its cultural heritage while making it accessible and relevant in the modern era, ensuring these traditions continue to thrive for future generations.
(Raidi/Agung)
