The Asian-African Conference Museum Was Inaugurated By President Suharto In Today's History, April 24, 1980

Entrance to the Asia-African Conference Museum. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - History today, 43 years ago, April 24, 1980, President Soeharto inaugurated the Asia Africa Conference Museum (KAA) in Bandung. The presence of the museum was hailed by Suharto as a gift to commemorate the 25th anniversary of KAA rocked the world.

Previously, KAA was a big stage for Indonesia to show its guts to the world. At that time, Indonesia managed to host a grand meeting between two continents: Asia and Africa. Even then KAA became the main mouthpiece for the two continents' resistance to colonialism and imperialism.

Bung Karno's international political narrative is gone. He was able to seize the world's attention to look at Indonesia. The country, which has only been around for a long time, is able to perpetuate international celebrations, even in limited conditions.

In the KAA event, for example. The international celebration which was held on April 18-24, 1955 in Bandung managed to attract the world's attention. Indonesia is also considered successful in providing space between the Asian and African continents in one forum.

The participants' quota varies. Those who came to KAA consisted of representatives of 29 independent and almost independent countries. Participation cannot be underestimated. Because, there is an important message offered in KAA. Especially if it is not resistance to colonialism and imperialism.

The topic continues to be voiced by the country's envoys from each continent. All agreed that colonialism in the world must be abolished. All delegates also agreed by supporting other countries that are struggling for independence.

The impact of KAA is widespread. All eyes around the world point to KAA. They consider KAA a celebration that cannot be underestimated. Even all news related to KAA has been reported to all corners of the world. Mainly related to Soekarno's message who dared to fight colonialism.

"If the lion dance from China is in collaboration with Nandi's cattle from India, with Spinx from Egypt with a populer from Burma, with a white elephant from Siam, with a Himra snake from Vietnam, with tigers from the Philippines and with a bull from Indonesia, it will definitely destroy the colonialism of internationalism," Soekarno said as quoted by Roeslan Abdulgani in the book The Bandung Connection (1981).

KAA's celebration was quite successful. The momentum is widely remembered throughout the country. Even though Bung Karno no longer serves as President of Indonesia. However, everyone agreed that KAA and its results must remain sustainable and remain silent in every Indonesian people.

The initiation presents the KAA Museum emerging. Shortly after, President Suharto acted to inaugurate the KAA Museum next to the Merdeka Building (where the KAA was held), Bandung, West Java on April 24, 1980. The inauguration was carried out in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of KAA.

The KAA museum has a fixed showroom, library, and a visual audio room. The exhibition space still displays collections in the form of three-dimensional objects and Toto's gallery, including a documentary photo of events that started KAA organizing such as the Monument Meeting, Colombo Conference, Bogor Conference, to the 1955 KAA.

"In addition, it is also equipped with photos of events behind KAA's lahimya, KAA's impact on the integral world, the Merdeka Building from time to time, and the orophyles of participating countries published in multimedia. Visitors can also watch the diorama depicting the opening of KAA in 1955," explained Her Suganda in the book Tourism Parijs van Java (2011).