Preservation Of Archipelago Heritage Music, Ministry Of Culture Holds Keroncong Svaranusa 2025

JAKARTA - The Directorate of Film, Music and Art of the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Blitar City Government and the Svara Irama Nusantara Foundation held the Keroncong Svaranusa 2025 at the Blitar Alon-aloon.

This event is not just an art celebration, but also an affirmation of the government's commitment to maintaining the existence of keroncong as one of the cultural heritages of Indonesia.

At the peak of the event, the Minister of Culture Fadli Zon connected the identity of Blitar City as a Proclaimer City with the breath of struggle in keroncong music.

"The city of Blitar is an iconic location and point that connects keroncong music with the spirit of the nation's struggle," he said.

He also emphasized the historical value of keroncong in the nation's journey.

"Keroncong is very important music, many do not know that the first time the song Indonesia Raya was recorded by WR Soepratman in the form of keroncong instrumentalia," he said in front of more than five thousand spectators who filled the Blitar Alon-aloon.

The Mayor of Blitar, Syauqul Muhibbin, expressed his pride for choosing the city he leads as the host.

"On behalf of the Blitar City Government, we welcome the Minister of Culture and all keroncong maestros, as well as give appreciation for the election of Blitar City. Many places are visited but Blitar City is different and special," he said.

Since the 16th century, keroncong has been part of the cultural acculturation process in the archipelago. Through changing times, this music has developed into one of Indonesia's distinctive musical identities. The presence of Keroncong Svaranusa is a space for artists to continue to be creative and care for traditional heritage.

In his speech, Fadli Zon emphasized that cultural promotion is a constitutional mandate. He referred to Article 32 Paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution which emphasized the importance of national culture in the midst of world civilization. According to him, Indonesia's cultural wealth from Sabang to Merauke must be jointly maintained.

He also referred to Indonesia as a country with cultural megadiversity. The tradition of dance, music, musical instruments, performance arts, manuscripts, to local people's and food games is all a wealth of expressions that must continue to be empowered.

"We are very happy that keroncong is still alive and we are sustainable because this is part of the expression of Indonesian culture that is known throughout the world," he said.

The event opened with the Sanggar Rara Ireng performance through the work of Heritage in Motion which combines music and dance. That night, the award was also given to the keroncong maestro: Waldjinah, Sundari Soekotjo, and Tuti Maryati, as a form of respect for their contribution in lifting keroncong to the international level.

In addition, the Chief Executive of Svaranusa, Reksada Belly Pradana, submitted the album Wirakarya Swaranusa to the Minister of Culture. The album contains eight original songs from the workshop in Bandungan, Semarang Regency, in July 2025, which are now available on digital platforms.

At the event location, Blitar Art Exhibition was also held: Exhibition of Fine Arts and Keris. Fadli Zon took the time to visit the exhibition to have a dialogue with the local art community. This exhibition features a collection of Keris, paintings, and traditional musical crafts from various regions in East Java.

The festival atmosphere is even more lively with the appearance of Orkestra Svaranusa, Endah Laras, Is Pusakata, Silvi Kumalasari, Patria Irama Blitar, Gita Abadi Tulungagung, Pelakor Makassar, and a number of other keroncong groups.

Fadli Zon hopes that this event will be able to encourage the younger generation to love keroncong music even more. He emphasized the importance of Cultural Creative Industry (CCI) as a driver of a cultural economy in the future.

"Thank you to our maestro who has raised keroncong, Indonesian music, to the world arena. Let us be a part of the promotion of culture, because this culture is our treasury," he concluded.

The presence of important figures also adds to the weight of the event, including Deputy Mayor of Blitar Elim Tyu Samba, a number of regional heads from East Java and Central Java, Director General of Development, Utilization, and Culture Development Ahmad Mahendra, as well as representatives of the arts and cultural community.

Through the implementation of Keroncong Svaranusa 2025, the Ministry of Culture reaffirms its commitment to maintaining the sustainability of ancestral heritage. The event, which has been running for four consecutive years, is expected to be an inspiration for other regions to provide space for local culture to stay alive, relevant, and meaningful for future generations.