Education, Culture, Research, and Innovation Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim spoke of having encouraged to make traditional music popular to garner the love of the general public while visiting the Lake Toba Traditional Music Festival (FMTI).

“Honestly, I always think about how to make traditional music popular and be loved by the general public. More importantly, how they can be enjoyed by the youth,” Makarim noted in Samosir District, North Sumatra, on Wednesday.

The minister expressed concern over the likely disappearance of traditional music if stakeholders failed to act in unison. He laid emphasis on the importance of innovation to preserve traditional music.

However, during the music festival, Makarim spoke of having heard traditional music for the first time. He found it to be beautiful and true to its roots but also had a modern feel to it.

He remarked that the music was blended with hip hop and occasionally with electronic music.

“It is extraordinary,” he affirmed.

The minister expressed optimism that culture would make the people within the super priority destination prosperous.

During his visit, Makarim stayed at the home of Martahan Sihotang, a Batak traditional music maestro.

Sihotang is a culture enthusiast. Along with his sibling, Elvrida Sihotang, he conducted art activities, such as the Tor-Tor dance training for teenagers.

“I am touched on receiving this kind of attention. It has been three years since I left my wife and child in Jakarta to advance Toba’s culture. My commitment, as it turns out, is to garner the minister’s attention,” he affirmed.

Earlier, the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry had organized the FMTI 2021, with the objective of strengthening the ecosystem of Indonesia’s traditional music.

“The goal of this music festival is to spark the people’s love for the nation’s identity,” Makarim noted.

Source: Antara News