Yogyakarta, May 22, 2026 – The Gadjah Mada Wayang Festival (GWF) 2026 once again presented a series of cultural events as part of the 80th Anniversary celebration of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. On the second day, an “Expert Lecture” themed “Wayang as Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage” was held at the Pusaka Jawa Courtyard of UGM on May 22, 2026.

This activity was part of a community engagement program under the theme of Equity, supported by LPDP. In his opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Gadjah Mada Wayang Festival Committee, Rudy Wiratama, expressed his gratitude to all invited guests and participants who had supported the event.

Rudy Wiratama also expressed his hope that the Gadjah Mada Wayang Festival would continue to be held annually as a cultural program. According to him, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM aims to continuously introduce wayang and selected dalang (puppeteers) to the public as part of preserving Javanese culture.

The expert lecture featured various discussions related to the world of wayang. Ir. Wono Sri Suwito, M.M. discussed cultural heritage within the wayang tradition. Meanwhile, Mas Tyo Cahya Sadewa presented the art of tatah sungging (traditional carving and coloring techniques) of wayang kulit within the treasury of Javanese puppetry. Zakariya Pamuji also provided perspectives from philology and epigraphy to examine wayang as a cultural heritage rich in historical values and knowledge.

The event was moderated by Dr. R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A. During the discussion session, he stated that wayang essentially belongs to everyone.

“When we talk about wayang, wayang belongs to all of us,” he remarked.

Through this activity, the Gadjah Mada Wayang Festival 2026 served not only as a space for appreciating performing arts but also as a medium for cultural learning for younger generations and the wider community, encouraging them to appreciate and preserve the cultural heritage of the Indonesian archipelago.

This activity was also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education through the dissemination of cultural knowledge, SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities through the preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals, as the event involved collaboration among academics, artists, LPDP, and the community in maintaining the sustainability of Indonesian culture.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

The Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, collaborated with the Yogyakarta City Cultural Office in the regular program “Setu Sinau” or “Saturday Learning,” held at the Malioboro pedestrian area on Saturday, May 16, 2026. This activity became one of the efforts to preserve Javanese culture through educational and interactive approaches for the wider community.

“Setu Sinau” is a regular program organized by the Yogyakarta City Cultural Office aimed at introducing Javanese culture to the public. Various cultural activities were presented, including learning Javanese script, traditional dance, drawing, ngadi busana or traditional Javanese attire, traditional children’s games, and playing gamelan. The participation of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program of FIB UGM in this program represented a tangible contribution of higher education institutions in supporting cultural preservation and strengthening local literacy in public spaces.

On this occasion, the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program conducted the “Sinau Aksara Jawa” session. Around 15 participants joined the activity after registering through the link that had previously been distributed. In addition, several visitors in Malioboro enthusiastically joined the session on the spot because they were interested in learning how to write Javanese script.

The session began with an introduction to the Javanese script from ꦲ to ꦜ, followed by an explanation of sandhangan as sound markers, such as ꦶ for the vowel sound “i,” ꦸ for “u,” ꦺ for “e,” and ꦺꦴ for “o.” Since the session focused on basic introduction, the material on pasangan (conjunct forms) was not yet discussed.

The atmosphere during Sinau Aksara was lively and engaging. Participants not only learned the theory but were also invited to play while learning through Javanese script card games. The instructors mentioned certain words, and participants were asked to arrange the script cards according to the spoken words. In addition, participants practiced writing words and simple sentences directly using Javanese script. This interactive method helped participants understand the material more easily while enjoying the learning process in a fun way.

One of the participants, Mrs. Sahnaz, who attended with her sons, stated that this activity served as a positive alternative to reduce children’s dependence on gadgets. According to her, the program provided an experience of “playing while learning” Javanese culture directly. Meanwhile, Mrs. Lestari, who came all the way from Muntilan, expressed her interest in learning teaching methods for introducing Javanese script to beginner children. She found the card method used in the session very effective and enjoyable. Several participants from outside Java also mentioned that the activity was a fascinating new experience because they could directly try writing Javanese script.

The event concluded with the distribution of books from the Yogyakarta City Cultural Office and small souvenirs from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program of FIB UGM to all participants. This collaboration reflected a shared commitment to preserving local cultural sustainability while also supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education through inclusive and enjoyable cultural education, and SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities through the preservation of cultural heritage in Yogyakarta’s public spaces.

Through activities such as Setu Sinau, Javanese culture is not only introduced as a cultural heritage of the past but is also revitalized as a meaningful part of contemporary community life.

Literacy Greetings, Script Greetings.

Aksara Team
Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program
Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada
(Arsanti, Zakaria, Ghibran, Dian, Bayu, Maysa)

Editor: Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani

Novel Si Anak Pemberani Tere Liye’s work once again feels relevant to various phenomena occurring in Indonesia today. Through the character of Eliana, readers are invited to see how a young girl’s courage can become a voice for the underprivileged, often marginalized by power and vested interests.

In the story, the villagers must face threats to their living space. This situation is reminiscent of numerous ongoing issues in Indonesia, from land conflicts and environmental degradation to the struggles of indigenous peoples and villagers to defend their homes. In these conditions, the common people are often in a vulnerable position, while major decisions are often made without truly listening to their voices.

Eliana’s character stands as a symbol of courage in fighting injustice. She doesn’t remain silent when she sees things that harm those around her. This figure also demonstrates the crucial role women play in social struggles. Today, more and more women in Indonesia are standing at the forefront of speaking out on environmental issues, education, and community rights, despite often facing pressure and challenges.

Through a warm story that is close to everyday life,The Brave Boyis not only a novel about childhood, but also a reflection on the courage to speak out. This book reminds us that change often begins with the courage of ordinary people who choose not to remain silent when facing injustice around them.

Author: Faiza S.

Yogyakarta, May 22, 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held a Farewell Afternoon Tea event alongside an evaluation meeting for the 2025/2026 Academic Year Student Exchange Program. The event was organized as a closing activity for the even semester and as a reflection forum on the implementation of FIB UGM’s student exchange program as well as the Independent Student Exchange Program under the Consortium of Deans of Faculties of Cultural Sciences across Indonesia.

The event was attended by faculty leaders, relevant administrative units, student exchange participants from various universities across Indonesia, and international students from partner institutions, including Kokushikan University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, National Chengchi University, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Palacký University Olomouc, and Kobe University. The presence of participants from diverse countries and institutions highlighted FIB UGM’s strong international academic network in supporting student mobility and cultural exchange.

In the official invitation, Nur Saktiningrum, Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs of FIB UGM, stated that the event aimed to evaluate the implementation of the student exchange programs that had been conducted throughout the academic year. Through this evaluation forum, participants were given the opportunity to share their experiences, feedback, and recommendations to further improve the quality of the programs in future periods.

Beyond serving as an evaluation platform, the event also functioned as a means of strengthening relationships among students from different cultural and national backgrounds. The interactions established throughout the exchange programs not only enriched participants’ academic experiences but also enhanced intercultural understanding, tolerance, and adaptability in a global environment.

This spirit aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, through the promotion of inclusive and internationally oriented learning experiences, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through collaboration between FIB UGM and various national and international higher education institutions in supporting student mobility and educational cooperation.

[Public Relations Office of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

The Master’s Program in Literature once again held a public discussion titled “Exercises in Chineseness: Literature, Mythmaking & Identity in Contemporary Tionghoa Communities” at Room 105 Soegondo, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, on Wednesday (20/5/2026). The event featured researcher Alexandra Masri Do from Cornell University, moderated by Naria Nur Iftitah from the Master’s Program in Literature, FIB UGM. The discussion explored contemporary Chinese Indonesian identity through literature, collective memory, and everyday cultural practices.

In her presentation, Alexandra highlighted the position of Chinese Indonesians as part of the world’s largest Chinese diaspora population. She explained that Chinese communities in the Indonesian archipelago existed long before the emergence of the modern nation-state, with records of settlements dating back to the seventh century. According to her, “Chinese” identity in Indonesia has never been singular, but rather continuously negotiated through language, culture, historical experience, and intergenerational social relations.

Alexandra also examined how the legacy of Dutch colonialism created social stratifications whose effects continue to persist today. She referred to 1965 and 1998 as two traumatic historical moments deeply embedded in the collective memory of Chinese Indonesian communities. The political circumstances of those periods, she argued, shaped the ways Chinese Indonesians viewed themselves, the state, and the very idea of citizenship.

Through several contemporary literary works, Alexandra demonstrated how the experience of being Chinese in Indonesia is articulated through personal narratives. She quoted The Longing by Alberta Natasia Adji, which portrays the younger generation’s disconnection from their ancestral cultural roots: “I’m a copy of my mother, but I speak the language of the locals. The closest thing I’ve got to my Chinese heritage now is eating noodles with chopsticks and checking my luck according to the Chinese horoscope.”

Referring to the passage, Alexandra noted that Chinese identity often survives only through simple cultural symbols such as chopsticks or zodiac beliefs, while ancestral languages gradually disappear from everyday life.

Beyond literature, Alexandra presented field documentation that she described as both collective and deeply personal, gathered from areas such as Glodok, Pantjoran PIK, Jambi, and Yogyakarta. Photographs of Chinese temples, Chinese schools, markets, and even citizenship archives from 1953 illustrated how Chinese identity continues to be reproduced through social spaces and cultural practices. She referred to this process as “mythmaking,” or the construction of collective narratives surrounding who Chinese Indonesians are and how they are understood.

Alexandra’s research also explored the aspirations of contemporary Chinese Indonesians, particularly the post-1998 generation. She questioned whether the idea of “homeland” is understood as Indonesia, China, or an in-between space of identity. These questions emerge alongside social change, globalization, and the increasing mobility of younger generations.

During the discussion, Alexandra emphasized the importance of fiction and literature as mediums for understanding minority experiences that are often absent from official historical narratives. In her view, literary works are capable of capturing the emotions, anxieties, and hopes of Chinese Indonesian communities more intimately than formal historical documents.

The event proceeded interactively with enthusiastic participation from students and academics. The discussion expanded to issues of discrimination, nationalism, and the representation of Chinese Indonesians in Indonesian popular culture. Through this public lecture, participants were encouraged to see Chinese identity not as a static category, but as an experience continually shaped by history, politics, culture, and everyday life.

[Magister Sastra, Khotibul Umam]