Leo Kristi's Folk Concert: Fadli Zon Emphasizes Music Unites Diversity

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon (right) and Ote Abadi (left) at the Folk Concert at the Sarinah Pavilion, Jakarta, Saturday (August 23, 2025). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon stated that music is not just enjoyable entertainment, but also plays a role in uniting the nation.

"In Indonesian culture, music is more than just entertainment; it is a common language that can unite diversity," said Fadli Zon after attending the Leo Kristi Folk Concert, as quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, August 24.

Furthermore, Fadli Zon explained that music also plays a significant role in documenting the journey of the Indonesian nation, from the colonial era to the present day.

"Music is a medium for expressing feelings, conveying ideas, and documenting the nation's journey. From folk songs to modern composers, music has always been an important part of shaping our collective identity," he explained.

The Ministry of Culture held the Leo Kristi Folk Concert at the Sarinah Pavilion. This event received a positive response from Leo Kristi's fans, who have longed for the songs and lyrics created by the legendary musician.

At Leo Kristi's Folk Concert, Fadli Zon took the time to sing along on a simple stage with Ote Abadi and Nona van der Kley.

The song Fadli Zon performed with Ote and Friends was "Nyanyian Fajar," a song from the legendary musician's first album from Surabaya, East Java.

"As a listener and fan of Leo Kristi's songs, I find them very meaningful and candid, full of honesty. But they remain optimistic, and I especially believe they instill a sense of love for the homeland," he said.

In this concert, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Ote and Friends performed several popular songs by Leo Kristi—whose real name is Leo Imam Sukarno—such as "Nyanyian Fajar," "Nyanyian Malam," "Nyanyian Tanah Merdeka," and many others.