Warung Prancis of Unversitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) firstly organized ‘Pesta Budaya – Fete de la Culture 2016’ raising a theme ‘Indonesian songs and dances’. Director of Warung Prancis, Puthut Ardianto, M.Pd., informed that the cultural festival will be an annual event to enhance cross-cultural understanding between Indonesia and France.
“This event is for public who are interested in learning Indonesian and French culture. Warung Prancis often conducts events exposing French culture, but I see that most people have not been familiar with Indonesian culture. Only local people recognize it,” Puthut stated on Thursday (26/5) at hall of Warung Prancis of UMY.
He asserted that the event aim was in line with the focus of Warung Prancis on education and culture. “Warung Prancis repeatedly hold educational events such as scholarship seminar and French language workshop or class. Now, we would like to provide a cross-cultural understanding event besides French movie screening and listening to French music. Thus, in this event, we present both French and Indonesian culture,” he told.
There was a song and dance performance by regional student associations in Yogyakarta. The students performed dance and song of six areas of Indonesia such as Tor-Tor from North Sumatera, Paduppa by Pinrang South Sulawesi, Japin Sigam from South Kalimantan by Sanggar Pangeran Samudera.
The festival also presented a musical instrument performance of Kulintang and Angklung by Mata Aksara. “In addition, the song performances are by IKMP of Bengkulu in Yogyakarta, Pajumonca from Bima Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB), Full of Surprise from Dompu NTB, Nyanyian Tanah Pasundan from West Java, and Medley Nusantara (UMY’s students),” he mentioned.
Puthut wished that the festival may display cultural wealth of Indonesia to ambassador of France. “Since Warung Prancis is under control of the embassy of France so that we have to show that Indonesia possesses superb culture. I also hope that people will be more acquainted with Indonesian culture,” he expected.
