REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANTEN \u2013 The commemoration of the 400th anniversary\nof Sheikh Yusuf Al-Makassari has officially entered the agenda of the\ninternational organisation UNESCO. The story of his struggle is also\nbeing discussed as a potential feature film.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis recognition serves as proof of the historical significance of\nthe scholar-fighter on the world stage of civilisation,\u201d said Culture\nMinister Fadli Zon when opening the event at the Former Banten Sultanate\nArea, Tuesday, 28 April 2028. The proposal to include it in the UNESCO\nagenda was submitted last year and is now part of the global agenda.<\/p>\n
According to him, Sheikh Yusuf is an extraordinary figure with a\nrecord of struggle across geographies, from the land of Banten, Batavia,\nSri Lanka, to the southern tip of the African continent in Cape\nTown.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn South Africa, Sheikh Yusuf is not just a religious figure, but\nalso a symbol of resistance against racist Apartheid politics,\u201d he\nstated.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Culture is currently pioneering the construction of\nthe Sheikh Yusuf Museum in Cape Town, which will also function as an\nIndonesian Cultural House. This strategic plan has reportedly received\ndirect approval from President Prabowo Subianto to strengthen\nIndonesia\u2019s cultural diplomacy abroad.<\/p>\n
In addition to physical construction, Fadli emphasised the importance\nof reviving literacy related to Sheikh Yusuf\u2019s thoughts. He encouraged\nthe publication of the works of the Murshid and supported the idea of\nmaking a feature film so that his exemplary values can be easily\naccessed by the current generation.<\/p>\n
Idea for Making a Sheikh Yusuf Film<\/p>\n
The idea for making a feature film was directly conveyed by the\nChairman of the Youth Wing of Sheikh Yusuf Al-Makassari (AMSY), Arief\nRosyid Hasan, after reading the Declaration of Youth Support as a\ncommitment to revive Sheikh Yusuf\u2019s values of struggle amid contemporary\nchallenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis 400th anniversary commemoration is an important momentum that\nis not only ceremonial but also reflective. Therefore, we propose making\na Sheikh Yusuf film for the big screen as part of the movement to ground\nthe values inherited to the younger generation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In his statement, Arief affirmed that Sheikh Yusuf is a figure who\npresents an important synthesis between spirituality and activism.<\/p>\n
\u201cSheikh Yusuf is an exemplar of activism-spiritualism. Awareness of\nGod does not make him distant from reality, but rather drives him to\ncontinue doing the best and making great contributions to civilisation,\u201d\nsaid Arief.<\/p>\n
This former General Chairman of PB HMI 2013-2015 stated that Sheikh\nYusuf is a great figure of the Archipelago not only known as a scholar,\nbut also a humanitarian fighter and a symbol of resistance against\ninjustice and oppression.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis thoughts and struggles transcend geographical boundaries,\nreaching various regions such as Banten, Makassar, to South Africa,\nemphasising universal values like justice, tolerance, spirituality, and\nthe unity of humanity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In the current context, Arief continued, the younger generation faces\nmajor challenges in the form of identity crises, social polarisation,\nand the weakening of diversity values. Therefore, strategic efforts are\nneeded to re-instill the noble values inherited by Sheikh Yusuf through\nrelevant and inspirational approaches.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, he emphasised that Sheikh Yusuf\u2019s legacy must not stop\nas mere historical notes. \u201cThe inherited values, from steadfast faith,\ncourage to fight injustice, to commitment to humanity, must be revived\nin the lives of today\u2019s younger generation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
This commemoration also strengthens the understanding that Sheikh\nYusuf is a global figure whose influence transcends national borders.\n\u201cThe traces of his struggle from the Archipelago to South Africa make\nhim an important symbol in Indonesia\u2019s cultural diplomacy on the world\nstage,\u201d said Arief.<\/p>\n
This momentum also serves as an affirmation that the younger\ngeneration has a strategic role in bridging the legacy of the past with\nfuture needs.<\/p>\n
In addition to Culture Minister Fadli Zon, attendees included Mizan\nFounder Haidar Bagir, representatives from the Ministry of Religious\nAffairs, representatives from the Banten Provincial Government, and\nseveral ambassadors from friendly countries.<\/p>\n
The event runs from Tuesday, 28 April 2026, to Sunday, 2 May 2025,\nand also features speakers in a series of discussions, including Prof\nOman Fathurrahman, Upi Asmaradhana, and Dr Musdalifah, PhD, who is the\n10th-generation descendant of Sheikh Yusuf, enriching the discussions\nwith perspectives on history, culture, and the relevance of Sheikh\nYusuf\u2019s values today.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/400th-anniversary-of-sheikh-yusuf-enters-unesco-agenda-amsy-proposes-feature-film-1777456402", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }