Colorful and vibrant: Locals present a traditional dance from Tabalong regency in South Kalimantan.

To draw the competitive interest of the almost 500 regional heads, the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) cooperated with the Association of Regency Administrations (Apkasi) and the Association of Indonesian Municipalities (Apeksi).

At first, regents and mayors were asked to send proposals of their visions, aspirations and cultural programs for their respective regions.

Finally, the organizers, through a jury panel, chose the 10 “most culture-conscious” regents and mayors. The Cultural Awards were presented at the National Press Day ceremony on Feb. 8 in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, before President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

The 10 winners were Tabalong Regent Anang Syakhfiani from South Kalimantan, Baubau Mayor AS Thamrin from Southeast Sulawesi, West Halmahera Regent Danny Missy from North Maluku, Banjarmasin Mayor Ibnu Sina from South Kalimantan, Ambon Mayor Richard Louhenapessy from Maluku, Serdang Bedagai Regent Soekirman from North Sumatra, West Tulang Bawang Regent Umar Ahmad from Lampung, South Tangerang Mayor Airin Rachmi Diany from Banten, Gunungkidul Regent Badingah from Yogyakarta and North Luwu Regent Indah Putri Adriani from South Sulawesi.

Prior to winning the Cultural Awards, the regents and mayors came to the PWI office in Jakarta on Dec. 27, 2019. There, they had to describe their visions and cultural programs in front of the jury comprising artist Nungki Kusumastuti, senior journalist Ninok Leksono, PWI central board chairman Atal S. Depari, cultural journalist Yusuf Susilo Hartono and cultural observer Agus Dermawan T. They wore traditional costumes with various accessories to represent their authority as regional “kings” or “queens”.

“The costumes are very relevant and attractive. In the government context, regents and mayors are indeed kings and queens of their regions. They are prime movers of all aspects in society, including culture,” Ninok said.

The unique features of local wisdom were given prominence in the presentations, with each regent and mayor formulating an interesting strategy to maintain, develop, promote and utilize all elements of local culture. This approach boils down to the desire to make local culture the driving spirit of development of all aspects social life in the regions. It is thus evident that Indonesia is rich regional cultures, as reflected in the region’s slogans.

Banjarmasin city, for example, has the slogan meangkat batang tarandam (to lift the submerged wooden logs). It is a traditional saying that represents how Banjarmasin will always tap into its hidden cultural potential so that everyone can notice it. It is also ecologically related to Banjarmasin’s natural environment, with its many waterways, earning it the nickname Negeri Seribu Sungai (The Land of a Thousand Rivers).

Ambon city’s special title, approved by UNESCO, is The City of Music. For the community of Ambon, music is central to all elements of life.

“The people of Ambon assimilate all musical forms into harmony. This is demonstrated by the blending of Ambonese and Hawaiian music. Hadrat music is a combination of Ambonese, Arabic and Persian styles,” said the mayor, Richard.

No less appealing is the slogan of West Tulang Bawang (Tubaba), menuju Tubaba, pulang ke masa depan (going to Tubaba, returning to the future). This surrealist tagline is derived from the Tubaba community’s traditional philosophy of uluan nughik (original culture), through which long-established culture serves as the basis for the future.

So, in implementing regional and spiritual development programs, the Tubaba regent often invites modern art maestros like architects Andra Matin and Yori Antar, and contemporary dancer Suprapto Suryodarmo, to create new art works based on traditional culture.

North Luwu has the poetic slogan kampung tenun berselimut kabut (woven-cloth village, engulfed in mist), which captures how locals produce beautiful cloths imbued with their feelings.

“The fine fabrics are created in the context of North Luwu’s natural atmosphere, which is covered with mist daily. This is a very poetic land,” said the regent, who enthusiastically preserves the cultures of the region’s 12 ethnic groups, including the To Rongkong and To Seko.

West Halmahera, or Halbar, boasts the slogan pesona budaya kota rempah (the spice town’s cultural wonder). Spices are central to the region’s identity, as Halmahera’s agricultural produce was sought after by Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch traders for centuries.

Halbar hosts internationally renowned events like the Jailolo Festival, featuring traditional cuisine and post-traditional stage shows by contemporary dancer and choreographer Eko Supriyanto.

From their presentations, it became apparent that the regents and mayors are very eager to promote the physical and spiritual development of their communities by focusing on regional culture.

According to Serdang Bedagai Regent Soekirman, who initiated the Bohorok Art Festival, culture will encourage everybody to work happily, honesty and free from corruption.

“I’m a regent who wishes to be a cultured man,” he said.

Disclaimer: The writer was one of the jury members.

— Photos by Agus Dermawan T.

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