Chanting Tembang Gemu Fa Mi Re, Indonesian Delegation Publicly Pukau In Vanuatu

The appearance of the Indonesian delegation at the 7th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival (MACFest) at Port Villa, Vanuatu, Wednesday (26/7/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Kemendikbudristek)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) stated that the appearance of the Indonesian delegation at the 7th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival (MACFest) at Port Villa, Vanuatu, was able to amaze the public.

The Ministry of Education and Culture in an official statement in Jakarta, Wednesday, July 26, said that the appearance of two teams of Indonesian artists, namely Papua in Love and Leisplang from Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) received appreciation from the public.

A team of Papuan artists in Cinta consisting of Papuan singers Michael Jakarilimena, Lala Suwages, Frans Comb, and Boii Soasoa, entertained Vanuatu residents with the chanting of Indonesian music.

Kawarine's song Wayawai Windawe, Diru Diru Nina O, as well as several songs were also sung together, even enlivened by a dance performance by Kasbi Dance who is a member of this team.

Furthermore, the audience was amazed by the performance of the music group Kampung Leisplang from Maumere, NTT, which performed the Ikun Beta dance and continued with the songs Sora and Gemu Fa Mi Re.

The combination of sounds that come from various traditional musical instruments, such as gong, waning, saur, jimbe with the sound of bass, juk (uculele), benyol (benjo), and violin, is an extraordinary harmony with the lyrics of the song performed.

One of the artists from Indonesia, Markus Maryolys Verrystanto, said this was the first appearance of the Leisplang group abroad.

"We are very proud of this opportunity because it makes us more enthusiastic in preserving traditional music," he said.

In line with her, Putri Nere, who is a team of artists from Papua, said that participation in this festival was a proud and fun experience.

"With this activity, we can show that the culture of Melanesia is a living culture that is an inseparable part of the cultural diversity that exists in Indonesia," he said.

In the MACFest 2023 activity, Indonesian artists performed with artists from member countries Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

The appearance of this cultural diplomacy mission is a collaboration between Indonesian government institutions, including with the Directorate General of Culture of the Ministry of Education and Culture.