The 2025 Khatulistiwa Kusala Is Held Again, Fadli Zon Affirms The Government's Commitment

The Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Fadli Zon at the Anugerah Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa Night Saturday, June 28, 2025.

JAKARTA After being stopped in 2021, the Anugerah Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa Night was held again. This prestigious literary award event took place at Graha Utama Building A, 3rd Floor, Ministry of Culture, Saturday, June 28, and was attended by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Fadli Zon. The presence of the government shows a strong commitment to maintaining the Indonesian literary ecosystem.

In his remarks, Fadli Zon emphasized the importance of making culture the foundation of the nation's development. "With the establishment of the Ministry of Culture independently, President Prabowo Subianto wants culture to become the main pillar," he said.

The Khatulistiwa Kusala Sastra was held by the Richard Oh Kusala Indonesia Foundation (YRKI). This award is not just a form of individual appreciation, but also a strategy to encourage the birth of quality new works.

This year, awards are divided into three categories: short, novel, and poetry. In the short category, long nominations include the End of the Elephant on Kupus Hill by Sasti Gotama, Old Cerobong Continues to Sander by Raudal Tanjung Banua, The Holy Land Devil by Arianto Adipurwanto, the Slaughter Garden by Putra Hidayatullah, the Oriente Family by Armin Bell, the Mei Salon by Lin Farliani, the End of Time Music by Kiki Sulistyo, the Season in the Mother's Hair by Mashdar Zainal, the Final Shipping by Anggit Rizkianto, and Ken Hanggara's New Human Knowledge.

The category of poetry includes CICA by Cyntha Hariadi, Dengung Tanah Goyah by Iyut Fitra, Ekprasis by Tan Lioe Ie, Hantu Padang by Esha Tegar Putra, Life Keep Running and We Have Forgotten The Reason is the work of Ibe S. Palogai, Traces of the Lintas by Raudal Tanjung Banua, Life, Sijenak Longer by Pranita Dewi, Good Night, Kawan! by Muhaimin Nurrizqy, Sheikh Siti Jenar and Sepinggan Poems in the Kobaran Api by Syaiful Alim, and the Tilas Genocide by A. Muttaqin.

While the novel nominations include Handling Dogs by Ridwan Malik, BEK by Mahfud Ikhwan, Duri and Kutuk by Cicilia Oday, Memories of Fish by Sasti Gotama, Inyik Balang by Andre Septiawan, Let's Go Further by Ziggy Zezsyazoviennazkie, Matthes by Alan TH, Oni Jouska by Asep Ardian, Paya Nie by Ida Fitri, and Taxi Night by T. Agus Khaidir.

Based on the assessment of the curator's board, Esha Tegar Putra's Padang Hantu won the poetry category. The end of the elephant in Bukit Kupu-pupu by Sasti Gotama won the best retail award. Meanwhile, the novel Duri and Kutuk by Cicilia Oday was chosen as the winner of the novel category.

Minister Fadli Zon congratulated the winners and all the nominees. He also appreciated YRKI as the organizer. "We need collaborative work with the community and writers to continue to advance literature," he said.

This event not only gave awards, but also spurred interest in reading and access to quality literary works. The committee purchased the winning book worth IDR 25 million to be distributed to schools, libraries, communities, and public reading parks to make it easier for all people to access.

This step is in line with the plan of the Ministry of Culture, which this year launched eight literary strengthening programs. Among them are the Laboratory of Translation of Letters, the Laboratory of Promotor of Letters, the translation program of literary works, the strengthening of festivals and the literary community, the management of national talents in the field of literature, the development of IP-based literature, as well as the promotion of Indonesian works at the international level.

"This is a constitutional mandate which is also emphasized in Law No. 5 of 2017," said Fadli Zon.

YRKI Chairman Pratiwi Juliani hopes that this award will encourage the birth of new works. "We really hope that this appreciation will have a positive impact," he said.

Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital as well as event curator, Nezar Patria, emphasized the importance of a solid cultural ecosystem. "Giving attention to literature means supporting every element that supports it," he said.

The event was also attended by the Special Staff of the Minister for Cultural Diplomacy Annisa Rengganis, Director of Digital Culture Development Andi Syamsu Rijal, and a number of literary activists.

At the end of his speech, Fadli Zon hoped that Indonesian literary works would become more global. "Therefore, translation is very important so that classic works remain sustainable," he said.