Dancers from Johor Heritage Foundation performing ‘Gemalai Emas’. — Courtesy photos
Johor has set a benchmark in initiatives aimed at strengthening trilateral relations between Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore with its Wonderful Nusantara Festival.
Now in its second year, the festival serves as a platform to celebrate the beauty and richness of regional cultural heritage while enhancing diplomatic relations and friendship among the three Asean countries.
Only Malaysia and Indonesia were involved in the inaugural event.
This year’s one-day festival in Johor Baru featured a variety of activities including heritage cuisine exhibition and tasting, introduction to traditional games, visual arts exhibitions, dance sessions and cross-cultural performances.
Each component was designed to reflect the diversity of Nusantara culture.
Johor Arts Education Association (Satu Seni) chairman Nurrul Ain Shaid Ahmad, 39, emphasised that the programme not only revived the heritage of the countries but also acted as a medium to connect younger generations to their cultural roots.
Nurrul Ain (left) showcasing her batik drawing skills.
“It also provides international communities an opportunity to understand and appreciate the cultural richness of the countries,” she said.
At the event, Nurrul Ain showcased her skills in making traditional batik, with the hope of passing down this knowledge to younger generations.
“Batik making is actually the same in Indonesia and Malaysia; the difference lies in the design.
“Traditional batik is also under threat from modern printed batik which is faster, easier to make and cheaper,” she said, adding that she had been promoting traditional batik for the last 18 years.
For some visitors, the festival also brought the different cultures to life.
Participants of Wonderful Nusantara Festival learning about food from Johor and Indonesia.
SMK Sultanah Engku Tun Aminah teacher Hew Mun Yoke, 40, said the programme allowed students to learn about other cultures in a hands-on manner, rather than just reading about them in a textbook.
“This is a great opportunity for students to make new friends from different cultures and countries too,” she said.
Hew emphasised that the festival gave students a chance to appreciate not only the diverse cultural expressions through dance and food but also their local heritage.
Hew says the festival is a chance for students to make new friends from different cultures.
“Dance, food and culture come together to create a rich tapestry of experiences that our students can cherish,” she said.
Among the attendees was Abdul Rahman Ali, 37, a member of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Nigerian Students Association.
“The festival gave people an idea of how very different cultures are between Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, in contrast with Nigeria.
“The food and cultural attire are distinct, and I find the traditional dances and games, such as lompat tali (jump rope) and baling tin (tin can alley), to be very interesting,” he said.
Dahlia performing ‘Tari Kethek Ogleng’ which represents the strong spirit of the Javanese people.
Abdul Rahman said he particularly enjoyed zapin, a traditional Malay dance with elegant movements and rhythmic music.
He suggested future festivals be extended on a two- or three-day format.
“This would give some breathing room between activities and keep the day’s events from being jam-packed,” he added.
Microbiologist R. Nanthini, 28, said the event gave her a platform to showcase her talent in the unique world of microart, carving intricate designs and custom names out of pencils.
“This started as a hobby back in 2018 and has grown into a small venture, where customers commission custom miniature art pieces at RM35 per name, which takes me around 20 minutes to complete,” she said.
While custom names can be done swiftly, some of Nanthini’s more intricate designs require days, with each piece demanding high precision and a steady hand.
Tamil showing a pencil carving made by Nanthini.
“My artwork features names and designs of states and landscapes in Malaysia,” she said, adding that she had support from husband V. Tamil, 29, who assists her with the fine details of her work.
Open University Pokjar Johor Indonesia Students Association member Dahlia Istiqomah, 20, said she had been preparing over two weeks for her dance routine titled Tari Kethek Ogleng.
“This dance originates from East Java and represents the strong spirit of the Javanese people.
“It tells a story inspired by local folklore, which many in Java have grown up hearing.
“This is the first time I am participating in such a large-scale event,” she added.
“It has been an unforgettable experience watching other dances and cultural performances.”
Dahlia said this was a rare opportunity to share historical and cultural stories through dance.
“I hope to be invited again to next year’s event,” she said, adding that she looked forward to seeing other cultural dances.
Indonesian Consulate Social and Cultural Affairs executive Erry Kananga said the country’s performances included “Tari Kangsreng”, “Pencak Silat” and “Sunrise of Java.”
“These dances represent local appreciation for the harvesting period, the strength to overcome hardship in life, and history and myths from East Java.
Dian Dancers performing Singapore’s ‘Harmony’ of Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures.
“We have also brought some of our traditional Indonesian food such as pampek (fish cake) and siomay (fish dumpling),” she said, adding that preparations for the event were made with their Johor and Singaporean counterparts since July this year.
On a dance called “Harmony”, Dian Dancers president Abdul Yazid Juhuri, 35, said it showcased Singapore’s Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures.
“We use cultural items that represent each ethnicity, such as kompang, flower garlands and hand fans, to reflect Singapore’s diversity.
“This is the first time Singapore has participated in this event and we hope to be invited again next year,” he said.
He added that he was eager to learn more about the different cultures in South-East Asia.
Singapore’s Malay Heritage Centre general manager Hafiz Shariff said the centre was hoping to establish a long-term partnership with Johor Heritage Foundation to foster closer cultural ties.
“This collaboration aims to promote the shared heritage between Singapore and Johor, given their close cultural links and geographic proximity.
“We hope to create a long-term working relationship with Johor Heritage Foundation to collaborate on upcoming cultural programmes,” he said.
