TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is promoting kolintang, a musical instrument made of wood from Minahasa, North Sulawesi, so that it is included in UNESCOs world heritage list.
This was stated by the Indonesian Consulate General in a press release received by Antara on Thursday.
A kolintang concert and a batik fashion show were held at theSydney Opera House Studio on Wednesday (Nov 9). These events were organized by the National Kolintang Insan Group (Pinkan) Indonesia, the Purnomo Yusgiantoro Foundation, Jaya Suprana Performing Arts, and IT Foundation. These were supported by the Indonesian Embassy in Canbberra and the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney.
"Efforts to promote Kolintang is another proof of the wealth of art and culture that Indonesia has, in addition to batik and angklung musical instrument which are already part of UNESCOs world heritage list," Indonesian Ambassador to Australia, Najib Riphat Kesoema, noted.
According to him, kolintang is unique as it has a range of low to high tones which are produced when one beats the instrument.
The event was attended by more than 300 guests, including Australians and members of the Indonesian diaspora.
Seven kolintang musicians of Pinkan Group have been taking Indonesian traditional music across the nation.
In 2013, the government declared wooden kolintang as part of Indonesian cultural heritage, an important step for this traditional musical instrument to be recognized by UNESCO.
Ambassador Najib reminded that such efforts to promote the country`s music was go beyond the recognition granted by UNESCO. In diplomacy, music is a universal language which plays a very important role in improving understanding among the peoples of the world.
"When words fail, music speaks," the ambassador commented.
He hoped that the kolintang concert and the batik fashion show would help open another window for Australians to know Indonesia better.
ANTARA
