Harmoni Collaboration Across Culture, Kemenbud Launches Collaboration Music Collaboration Kolintang Balafon

JAKARTA The Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia was present at the launch of collaborative singles of collintang and balang music featuring two songs entitled Oh Minahasa and Haiti at Artotel Senayan, Jakarta. The two songs are the result of a collaboration between the Indonesian National Kolintang Association (PINKAN) with Indonesian musicians, Ita Purnamasari, in the song Oh Minahasa, as well as Neo Akbar, the Balibon player, in the song Hauti. In his remarks, Menbud Fadli Zon called these two songs not just musical presentations, but an extraordinary initiative that bridges tradition, identity, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Menbud Fadli said, this is a very important form of cross-cultural collaboration, especially using traditional musical instruments, which were recently mentioned about seven months ago as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO on December 3, 2024.

Menbud said that kolintang and balang are not only combined in the harmony of music, but also in the history and recognition of the world. Kolintang from Southeast Asia (Indonesia) and balafon from West Africa (Tatai Gading, Burkina Faso) are now united, not only in tone, but also in historical and international recognition.

"This is proof that music is capable of becoming a universal language that strengthens friendship between nations," he continued.

The Ministry of Culture, continued Menbud Fadli, expressed his appreciation to PINKAN Indonesia for its consistent commitment and contribution in efforts to preserve, promote and diplomacy culture through various initiatives related to kolintang.

"The active role of PINKAN Indonesia has become an important part in strengthening the cultural heritage ecosystem, as well as expanding the reach of kolintang as a symbol of Indonesian cultural identity at the national and international levels. I believe that one of the best ways to preserve culture is to continue to work, innovate, and celebrate so that sustainability between the old generation and the younger generation is maintained," he concluded.

On this occasion, he also expressed his appreciation to Ita Purnamasari, Dwiki Dharmawan, kolintang maestros, and Neo Akbar as balangan players, for their contribution in presenting inspiring cross-cultural music collaborations. According to him, their involvement is very important in strengthening the identity of Indonesian culture and preserving the nation's culture on the world stage.

Menbud Fadli Zon explained that kolintang as a traditional musical instrument from Minahasa, North Sulawesi, has now been officially recognized by UNESCO as the world's Intangible Cultural Heritage (WBTb). This recognition was given through a joint extension mechanism of the Balaphone from Ivory Coast, Mali, and Burkina Faso in the 19th Session of the Inter-Government Committee for the Protection of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage in Paraguay on December 5, 2024.

"Colintang is now a strategic cultural diplomacy tool. Through this soft power, kolintang is an important medium to strengthen relations between countries and expand Indonesia's positive influence at the global level," said Menbud Fadli.

Furthermore, Menbud Fadli reminded that as a nation that has extraordinary cultural wealth, Indonesia has a big responsibility to continue to maintain, preserve, and utilize cultural heritage.

Chairman of PINKAN Indonesia, Penny Iriana Marsetio, said that the launch of this song was a form of commitment and promise to the Minister of Culture after UNESCO's recognition of kolintang as a cultural heritage.

"We will continue to strive to preserve kolintang," he said.

He hopes that the existence of kolintang and balang can continue to be sustainable in Indonesia and the world. In the question and answer session, Neo Akbar as a player as a Balipon craftsman, shared an interesting story about the journey and closeness of the balang instrument to kolintang from Indonesia.

"This ceiling is genuine and traditional, its distinctive voice comes from a resonator who is a sound collector. If you imagine, it looks like kolintang, only different in material," he said.

Neo said that initially he created songs with a global concept which was later developed into balafon music-based songs.

"In its development, the balphone also adapts to tone systems such as diatonics and chromatics so that they are easier to mix with other musical instruments, including kolintang," he explained.

Furthermore, Neo said that the closeness of the balphone and kolintang was not only a form and technique of the game. According to him, these two musical instruments are like 'sepu' in a musical family.

"In the past there was indeed a transfer of knowledge from musicians. This Balaphone and collintang are like family. Balaphone players can play kolintang, and vice versa, kolintang players can also play billboards," he said.

Meanwhile, Dwiki Dharmawan as a composer and music producer of this song said his experience and closeness to kolintang music. He shared that his love for kolintang began as a child, when he lived in Bandung which is adjacent to the Karawitan Conservation (KOKAR), which is now known as ISBIBandung.

"I often play in the KOKAR environment and start getting to know various traditional musical instruments, including kolintang. From a young age I have played the Sundanese gamelan, Javanese gamelan, to kolintang and angklung," said Dwiki.

Dwiki also said that his more serious introduction to kolintang occurred when Penny introduced him to kolintang activists. "Since then I have been deepening kolintang, and I am committed to continuing to introduce this instrument to the world stage," he said.

He emphasized the importance of fighting for kolintang recognition in the global arena. "Indonesia is a great nation with extraordinary cultural diversity. We must ensure that our culture gets global recognition," said Dwiki.

The launch of the song was marked by the screening of two music videos from the songs "Oh Minahasa" and "Haiti". The event was even more lively with the musicians' live performances from the song Menbud Fadli on this occasion also presented the song O Ina Ni Keke which was accompanied by kolintang and balang.