TEMPO.CO, Kupang-The Ministry of Education and Culture launched "Melanesian Diaspora in the Indonesian Archipelago" during the Melanesian Cultural Festival 2015 in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.
“In the book we can see how Melanesians became part of Indonesia and Indonesia becomes part of the Melanesian culture," Education Minister Anies Baswedan told reporters in Kupang on Wednesday, October 28.
The nine-chapter book tells the story on how Melanesians arrive in the archipelago, their genetic traces, and diversity of languages in Melanesia.
The book was written by ten authors, including geologist Rovicky Dwi Putrohari, archaeologist Truman Simanjuntak, anthropologist Father Gregory Neonbasu, linguistic expert Multamia Lauder, Eijkman Institute Head of Forensic DNA Laboratory Herawati Sudoyo and historian Edward L Poellinggomang.
The Melanesian Cultural Festival 2015 is held for the first time in Indonesia between October 27 to 30 and attended by representatives from the Pacific countries, including Papua New Guinea, Fiji, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste.
ANTARA