Fadli Zon reminds Minang Diaspora: Don't lose your cultural roots

Fadli Zon meminta masyarakat Minangkabau di ranah dan rantau tetap menjaga identitas budaya di tengah arus globalisasi. (IST)

JAKARTA - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon asked the Minangkabau people in the region and region to maintain cultural identity in the midst of globalization. According to Fadli, culture is not just a heritage, but a strength that determines the character of the nation and Indonesia's position in the world.

The message was conveyed by Fadli when attending the Silaturahim Minang Diaspora Global Network with the theme "Mufakat Ranah dan Rantau: Membangun Nagari-Menguatkan Jati Diri" at YARSI University, Jakarta, Saturday (23/5).

The event brought together the Minangkabau diaspora from various countries with adat figures, academics, cultural figures, and regional governments. "Culture must be preserved and developed in the midst of world civilization," said Fadli.

He assessed that the Minangkabau culture has great strength, ranging from literature, manuscripts, customs, to culinary such as rendang which has been designated as an Indonesian Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Fadli also touched on the pictograph findings in the Lidah Aia Cave, West Sumatra, which showed traces of an ancient civilization in the region tens of thousands of years ago.

According to Fadli, cultural wealth like this should be a strength of diplomacy as well as Indonesia's cultural economy. "Culture is not a burden, but a strength," he said.

Fadli said Indonesia has a mega diversity or a large cultural diversity spread across thousands of islands. Therefore, the relationship between Minang people in their hometowns and abroad needs to continue to be maintained so that cultural identity is not interrupted.

The President of the Minang Diaspora Global Network, Fasli Jalal, said that the Minang diaspora network has now expanded in 22 countries. He assessed that nagari remains an important foundation for the identity of the Minangkabau community.

"We can go anywhere, but our identity as Minang people must be maintained," said Fasli.

The event was also filled with cultural dialogues, a Minangkabau literature book exhibition, art performances, and awards to literacy and humanitarian figures.

Fadli handed over the Minangkabau Cultural Literacy Masterpiece Award to Tan Sri Rais Yatim and Buya Mas'oed Abidin for their contributions to the development of Minangkabau cultural literacy.

Those who attended the event included Mufidah Jusuf Kalla, Governor of West Sumatra Mahyeldi Ansharullah, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denny Abdi, and the writer Taufiq Ismail.