The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Awards Indonesian Cultural Activists at the Peak Night of AKI 2024

JAKARTA – The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) held the peak night of the Indonesian Cultural Awards (AKI) 2024 at The Tribrata Hotel and Convention Darmawangsa, Jakarta, on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.

This year's AKI event carries the theme "A Special Tribute to Cultural Activists," which signifies the government's appreciation presented to cultural practitioners in Indonesia who have dedicated themselves to the advancement of culture while inviting the community to participate in preserving the wealth of national culture.

The Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), Nadiem Anwar Makarim, accompanied by the Director General of Culture, Hilmar Farid, and several Ministers from the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet, also attended the peak night of AKI 2024.

On this peak night, Nadiem Makarim expressed his gratitude and congratulations to the cultural activists who have received or been nominated for awards.

According to Nadiem, the award for cultural activists is not merely a ceremonial recognition but a government appreciation for cultural activists who have strengthened the advancement and ecosystem of Indonesian culture.

“There is a spirit and participatory invitation shown by cultural activists to the community to collaborate in developing the cultural heritage of the archipelago. Cultural activists remind us all that caring for culture is the duty of all society to maintain Indonesian civilization,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hilmar Farid stated that cultural activists are real examples of exemplary action in realizing the advancement of culture in accordance with the mandate of Law Number 5 of 2017. For Hilmar, the work of cultural activists creates significant value and meaning from Indonesia's cultural heritage.

Hilmar conveyed that the creativity and spirit of cultural activists provide evidence of the development of Indonesia's cultural wealth, which can be enjoyed by every generation, both past and present.

“The great benefits of the dedication of these cultural activists must be appreciated by the state in a special way through the implementation of AKI. Cultural activists encourage the growth of a sense of preserving culture with all its diversity in community life,” explained Hilmar.

Hilmar also emphasized that the work of advancing culture certainly requires the spirit of optimizing resources and innovation to be accepted by the community. This effort, Hilmar added, has been clearly demonstrated by cultural activists.

This year, Kemendikbudristek categorized the recipients into two types: Honorary Signs from the President of the Republic of Indonesia, which consists of the Cultural Star Parama Dharma and the Cultural Satyalancana, and cultural awards from the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, which consists of categories such as Maestro of Traditional Arts, Preserver, Pioneer and/or Innovator, Foreign Institutions and Individuals, Media, and Children.

The recipients of the AKI 2024 award for the category of maestro of traditional arts are 1) Temu Misti (Gandrung Banyuwangi Dance Artist), 2) Kartolo (Ludruk Artist), 3) Rusini (Traditional Composer and Dancer), 4) Tatang Setiadi (Traditional Artist), and 5) Baiya (Singer of Long Oral Literature).

Next, the Preserver category includes 1) Siami (Weaver of Wastra Using), 2) Kadhiri PASAK Cultural History Preservation Community (Preserver of Kediri History and Culture), 3) Endo Suanda (Ethnomusicologist, Researcher, Dancer, Musician), 4) Senari (Transcriber of the Lontar Yusuf Manuscript), and 5) Sardjono (Karawitan and Pedhalangan).

Then, the Pioneer and/or Innovator category includes 1) Ainar Tri Asita (Dance Choreographer), 2) Laura Tias Avionita Sinaga (Dancer and Choreographer for Persons with Disabilities), 3) Lisabona Rahman (Film Archivist), 4) Mulyani (Dance Artist), and 5) Papermoon Puppet Theatre (Puppet Theatre).

Furthermore, for Foreign Institutions and Individuals, the recipients are 1) Andrew Timar (Artist, Composer, Educator, and Community Engagement Advocate in Javanese, Sundanese Culture, and Hybrid Gamelan Music Activist in Canada), 2) Marianna Zofia Lis (Researcher of Indonesian Wayang and Theatre, Puppeteer, Gamelan Player, and Translator of Indonesian Literary Works, from Poland), 3) Boi Akih (Musician, from the Netherlands). The Media category recipients are 1) Tatkala.co and 2) Kediripedia.com.

Meanwhile, for the Children category, the award recipients are as follows: 1) Zakia Minang Ayu (Literature), 2) Nurul Khaerul Nisa (Karawitan and Sundanese Dance), and 3) Daneswara Satya Swandaru (Art of Wayang Kulit, Wayang Golek, Menek, and Karawitan).

On August 14, President Joko Widodo also awarded three recipients of honorary signs. First; the honorary sign of the Cultural Star Parama Dharma was awarded to the creator of Shalawat Badar (Alm) Ali Manshur Shiddiq and (Alm) Djauhar Zaharsyah Fahrudin Roesli (Harry Roesli) for their contributions in making music art an inclusive space.

Then, the honorary sign of the Cultural Satyalancana was awarded to (Alm.) Prof. Henricus Supriyanto, M. Hum., as a cultural figure and activist and preserver of ludruk art. The peak night of AKI 2024 was hosted by renowned presenters Daniel Mananta and Najwa Shihab and was also enlivened by performances from national musicians who performed modern arrangements of regional songs, namely Bunga Cita Lestari and Saykoji.

Modern dance attractions from a series of dancers under the choreography of Ronald Soe also added to the festive atmosphere of the peak night of AKI 2024. The peak night of AKI 2024 also featured a sermon from the famous preacher Muzammil Hasballah.

The peak night of AKI 2024 was also broadcast through the platform Indonesiana.TV, which can be accessed via the website www.indonesiana.tv and the channel Indonesiana.TV on Indihome cable television network channel 200 (SD) and 916 (HD) as well as the official YouTube account of Kemendikbudristek RI.[*]