Makassar Heritage Festival Presents Local Cultural Heritage To The Role Of Women

JAKARTA - A festival celebrating local cultural wealth is back in Makassar. This event is not only a space for traditional art expressions, but also a forum to strengthen the role of women in maintaining and caring for cultural heritage.

One of them is through the Makassar Heritage Festival (MHF) 2025, which carries the narrative of the epic culture of I La Galigo and explores the contribution of women in South Sulawesi culture.

The Makassar City Government expressed its support for the implementation of the 2025 MHF. Deputy Mayor of Makassar, Aliyah Mustika Ilham, when receiving a visit from representatives of PT Persuasive Indonesia, said that his party welcomed this activity because it displayed a cultural approach that was fresh, inclusive, and oriented towards sustainability.

This series of events is scheduled to take place on October 18, 2025 at Fort Rotterdam Fort, Makassar, with the main theme Women and Local Culture'.

One of the flagship programs is musical theater performance I La Galigo, Bugis' epic literary work which is full of historical values and philosophy of life for the people of South Sulawesi.

"The Makassar City Government always encourages initiatives that promote regional culture creatively and involve more groups, including women and young people, in the transformation process of culture," said Aliyah, as quoted by ANTARA.

Furthermore, he appreciated the return of I La Galigo to the stage as a form of preserving local cultural identity, after being last staged in this city in 2011. However, he also reminded the importance of an even approach, not only in terms of gender but also the involvement of all levels of society.

"It is important to emphasize that cultural preservation is a shared responsibility. Men also have rights and roles in caring for and reviving local culture," he added.

Aliyah also suggested that the use of Indonesian is prioritized in mentioning the name of the event, as a form of appreciation for the national language. He suggested that the term 'heritage' can be changed to 'heritance' to make it more grounded.

The involvement of students and the younger generation is also emphasized as part of a strategy to build love for culture from an early age.

Meanwhile, General Manager of PT Persuasive Indonesia, Ristita Rukmana, said that the 2025 MHF is not only an art performance, but also an active participation room from the cultural community, MSME players, and the general public. The festival agenda will include traditional music and art performances, local product bazaars, to community exhibitions.

"We designed this festival so that it can be enjoyed by all people, not just entertainment, but also across generations of educational experiences. We will also invite Bugis-Makassar diaspora from various regions to participate in enlivening this event," explained Ristita.