Yogyakarta, Friday, 1st of November 2024. The English Literature Department Student Association (IMAJI) held English Days 2024. This event is an annual event that has a series of activities to enliven the 78th Dies Natalies of the English Literature study programme. One of the series of English Days 2024 activities is a theatre performance held on 1 November 2024 at Soegondo Auditorium, Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, from 18.00 WIB to 21.30 WIB.

Before going to the the main performance, the event began with a speech from Florinesya Zahwa Raihania, as the Chairperson of the English Days 2024 Committee. On this occasion, Flori expressed her gratitude to the audience and those involved in supporting the success of English Days 2024. The speech was then continued by English Literature Lecturer, Hasyim Kurniawan, S.S., M.App.Ling.. Mr Hasyim conveyed the importance of student organisation events as a great source and learning experience. He said experiences in organisational activities train skills and leadership and problem solving and will help every aspect of students’ future.

After the speeches ended, the theatre performance titled, ‘The Front Stage Facade’ began, telling the story of the dark side of the entertainment industry. The show began with a dance music performance which would then accompany certain moments during the show. The reveal of the main players in this theatre is the character Jackie (Rizqi) as, ‘Starboy’ who plays the role of an American entertainment industry figure who is famous abroad, followed by Avery (Dewi) playing the role of the main manager of the theatre talent from the French owner of a company engaged in the entertainment industry, Jacques (Aimar). In addition, there are major characters who appear after the first part of the show which further increases the tension and excitement of the theatre with the appearance of Rita (Tyaz) and Pamela (Vari). Meanwhile, supporting characters such as Boy 1 (Nida), Boy 2 (Ipeh), Girl 1 (Felice), Girl 2 (Zahwa), Girl 3 (Nia), and Girl 4 (Chu), liven up the atmosphere of the theatre performance with various unique moments.

The English Days 2024: A Step Into the Centre Stage theatre performance was one of the amazing theatre performances in early November. It was a closing event that was well attended by the general public and students. Congratulations on the event success!

University campuses serve as ideal spaces to explore knowledge beyond the classroom. Discussion forums can be created as a response to pressing issues, such as inequality in Indonesia. These discussions can be sparked through various media, including music and film, which is exactly what the Anthropology Students Association (KEMANT) has done through its event, Rembukant #2, a program initiated by KEMANT’s academic division. This second edition of Rembukant invited participants to watch a film and explore the creative process behind the music currently trending in Papua Highlands.

The event took place on Thursday, September 26, 2024, in Room 521+522 of Soegondo Hall, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM. With the theme “Celebrating Identity Through Music: Technology, Tradition, and Globalization in Wisisi Nit Meke,” KEMANT encouraged participants not just to watch but also to engage in a discussion with the filmmaker. The event featured Wok The Rock as the film’s producer, Asep Nayak as the musician and main actor, and Cania, a 2020 UGM Cultural Anthropology alumna and current film researcher. The event was moderated by Puspita Nindya Sari, a 2023 Cultural Anthropology student.

The event began with a film screening, followed by a discussion with the speakers, and concluded with a Q&A session and a flashmob of the Aster dance, led by Asep Nayak. Aster dance is a popular dance in Papua today, performed to the beat of wisisi music created by Asep Nayak.

The second speaker, Asep Nayak, shared his journey as a wisisi musician and film actor. He explained how his passion for music led him to learn FL Studio software on his own via YouTube. Through his storytelling, Asep highlighted the significance of wisisi music and its collaboration with Aster dance in the context of Papuan society.

The final speaker, Cania, provided an anthropological analysis of the film. She shared her perspective on how the film reflects the intersection of technology, tradition, globalization, and identity.

The discussion was engaging and interactive, with the film Wisisi Nit Meke offering new insights into how wisisi music and Aster dance have become part of the identity of the indigenous Papuan community. The internet, as a result of technological progress, has made global information more accessible, including tutorials for using FL Studio, which has become a tool for creative expression. Rembukant #2 concluded with a flashmob of the Aster dance, accompanied by wisisi music led by its creator.

[FIB UGM Public Relation, Writer: Puspita Nindya Sari, Editor: Aldiza, Translator: Aldiza, Photos: Afkar Alhamid]

Yogyakarta, Wednesday, April 24, 2024 – Dr. Wildan Sena Utama, M.A., a lecturer in the Department of History, featured at the workshop titled Mapping the Internationalization of Art in the Global South Context – Collaboration Among Art Institutions. Organised by the Biennale Foundation Discussion, the event aimed to disseminate ideas on why the values of the Bandung Spirit remain relevant in international politics and Indonesia’s foreign policy. It also served as a reflection on the upcoming 70th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference next year, and how to revive the Bandung Spirit at the grassroots level.

Dr. Wildan delivered his presentation at the historic Savoy Homann Hotel, one of the accommodations used by Asian and African leaders attending the 1955 Bandung Conference. During the workshop, he analyzed key values from the Asia-Africa Conference that are still important to promote and spread at the grassroots level today. These values include decolonization, world peace, and international cooperation—three principles from the Bandung Spirit that remain highly relevant. The Asia-Africa Conference Museum, managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regularly organizes discussions to keep the spirit of the Bandung Conference alive, recognizing its continued significance in today’s global political context.

The presentation was followed by contributions from representatives of the National Archives of Indonesia, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lecturers from UNPAD’s International Relations department, cultural figures from Bandung, and heritage activists.

On May 4, 2024, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Universitas Padjadjaran (FISIP Unpad) hosted a public lecture featuring Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi Hargo Yuwono, M.A., a professor from the Department of Anthropology at Universitas Gadjah Mada. In this lecture, Prof. Pujo addressed the topic “The Notion of Justice, Racism, and Coffee Cultivation in Colonial Java, 1870s-1930s,” combining anthropological insights with the colonial history of Java. Through this subject, Prof. Pujo—familiarly known as Mas Pujo—invited students to understand how the history of coffee cultivation in 19th-century Java reinforced racial and economic injustices, which continue to have lasting impacts today.

Mas Pujo emphasized the importance of understanding colonial history in the context of coffee cultivation to see its influence on current social and economic conditions, particularly within Indonesia’s coffee industry. The lecture, held at FISIP Unpad’s campus in Jatinangor, West Java, was attended by students from various departments. They were urged to recognize the exploitative nature of colonial coffee cultivation. Mas Pujo explained that this system was based on three principles: first, as a tool to enrich Dutch entrepreneurs; second, the myth of native laziness was used to justify forced labor; and third, all coffee production was directed to meet the demands of European industry, rather than benefiting the local population.

One of the key points of the lecture was the racial injustice surrounding the entire process of coffee cultivation, marketing, and consumption during the colonial era. Mas Pujo revealed that, at the time, Javanese people were prohibited from consuming coffee; they were only allowed to drink coffee leaves, while native laborers were forced to work on plantations. The right to market coffee was restricted to Dutch and Chinese trade guilds, and coffee could only be enjoyed by white individuals.

Through his analysis, Mas Pujo highlighted how colonial policies based on race created social injustices that continue to affect economic and social relations in modern Indonesia. This public lecture sparked active discussions among students, who were eager to connect the historical relevance of this topic to the current state of the coffee industry.

The full lecture can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/RcER1qufrMI.

[Public Relations, FIB UGM, Author: Bonifacius Edo, Editor: Aldiza]

Thursday, April 25, 2024 – Delegations from Indonesia and the Netherlands gathered to attend the bilateral meeting of The 23rd Mixed Economic Commission between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jakarta, Indonesia (25/4). In the agenda, both countries agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including economy, investment, transportation, maritime, education and culture, energy and mineral resources, and health.

On this occasion, Mr. Didin Wahyudin stated that economic cooperation between the two countries needs to be strengthened, considering the potential in trade relations, renewable energy, and the Indonesian diaspora. In the investment sector, Indonesia views its relationship with the Netherlands as an opportunity to expand cooperation with Europe. The Dutch delegation agreed to design and continue government-to-government (G to G) and government-to-business (G to B) programs on wind energy, solar power, hydrogen, and more to strengthen energy cooperation. Among the implementations already carried out by the Netherlands to deepen the understanding of energy implementation in Indonesia are collaborations with Pertamina and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). Additionally, to support maritime cooperation, the Indonesian delegation emphasised the implementation of the 2022-2025 MoU by proposing a bilateral meeting to discuss sustainable port development and sea building.

Both Indonesia and the Netherlands appreciated the participation of both countries in fostering regional economic cooperation. Financial support from the Netherlands has been highly beneficial for investment. As a Development Partner of ASEAN, the Netherlands greatly values Indonesia’s warm reception.

[Public Relation of FIB UGM, Writer: Arviani Fayzaila Ramadhanti, Editor: Rifal Fadlurrahman, Translated: Aldiza]