Bukittinggi's Jam Gadang Centenary Celebrated with International-Grade Events
Bukittinggi - The Bukittinggi City Government in West Sumatra has announced that the centenary of Jam Gadang will be marked with a series of internationally acclaimed arts and cultural activities, including foreign dignitaries.
“Jam Gadang no longer needs to be promoted nationally; it must now be introduced at the international level. Twenty events will run from early June to the climax on 21 June, with 36 delegations and ambassadors from various countries scheduled to attend,” said Bukittinggi Mayor Ramlan Nurmatias on Tuesday, 26 May.
He stated that the centenary celebration is being held through the fourth International Minangkabau Literacy Festival (IMLF-4), themed “100 Years of Jam Gadang & From Literacy to Legacy: Building Wealth, Peace and Sustainability Learning”.
“The literacy and cultural festival will run for five days from 3 to 7 June, with 259 delegates from 36 countries participating,” he added.
Countries participating include Australia, the UK, Germany, Russia, India, South Korea, Japan, the US, Spain, as well as Palestine and Yemen.
According to him, participants are divided into categories including 122 regular attendees, 20 speakers, 19 book launch presenters, 63 poets, and 35 performing artists.
Other activities will centre around Pasa Ateh and the Jam Gadang plaza, featuring book exhibitions, MSME bazaars, and live painting performances.
The main seminar will be held at Balairung, focusing on the history and significance of Jam Gadang from various perspectives.
In the afternoon, delegates will symbolically plant 100 trees, followed by nature-themed poetry readings and a tour to Tabiang Barasok tourist site.
In the evening, audiences will be entertained by a Randai Festival and traditional arts performances at Jam Gadang. This will be followed by a 100-metre calligraphy painting unveiling, the launch of 100 books, and a cultural seminar, he added.
Additionally, tourism and creative economy discussions will be held to advance West Sumatra’s tourism sector.
Delegates will also participate in the IMLF Goes to School and Integrated Educational Tourism (WIDURI) programme, visiting the Birthplace of Bung Hatta Museum.
The city streets will showcase local culture through a parade of 1,000 women in Minangkabau traditional attire and a World Poetry Reading featuring 100 global poets.
Before departing, the event will conclude with the IMLF Jam Gadang Fun Run, targeting 1,500 to 2,000 runners, and a colouring competition for children around Jam Gadang.
“With an estimated 500 to 1,000 visitors daily, the IMLF-4 is expected to boost the local creative economy, particularly for hundreds of MSME entrepreneurs,” he said.
The Bukittinggi City Government and organising committee are finalising coordination to ensure all technical aspects—from main stage infrastructure and lighting to security management—run smoothly and make a strong impression globally.
“This event is not just a centenary celebration of Jam Gadang but aims to establish a lasting literary legacy for West Sumatra and the international community. The primary goal is to position Bukittinggi as a special region in Indonesia,” he explained.