Culture Minister Pushes for Construction of Sheikh Yusuf Museum in South Africa
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Culture Minister Fadli Zon has stated that his ministry is working to establish the Sheikh Yusuf Museum, which will function as the Indonesian Cultural House in Cape Town, South Africa, as a strategic step to strengthen cultural diplomacy.
“This initiative has been coordinated with local authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has been approved by President Prabowo Subianto,” Fadli said in a statement confirmed from Jakarta on Wednesday.
Furthermore, he added, his ministry is committed to accelerating the designation of sites in Banten Lama as National Cultural Heritage to ensure the preservation of living heritage such as the Grand Mosque.
He emphasised Sheikh Yusuf’s role as a complete fighter. Sheikh Yusuf was a comprehensive figure who united intellectual strength through 50 works on Sufism with physical action against colonialism.
“He is the only figure to hold the title of National Hero in two countries, Indonesia and South Africa. It was in the land of Banten that he served as mufti and son-in-law to Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa,” the Culture Minister stressed.
This fourth-century commemoration marks an important historical note because it has officially entered the agenda of the international organisation UNESCO, affirming Sheikh Yusuf’s position as a national figure whose influence is recognised globally.
The series of events in the courtyard of the Grand Mosque of Banten Lama was filled with various educational programmes, starting from the Intellectual Discussion “Sheikh Yusuf: Then, Now, and in the Future” featuring experts such as Prof. Oman Fathurahman and Mukhlis PaEni, to the collective action of Khatmil Quran bil Kitabah or the writing of Quran manuscripts by 500 students.
Visitors could also view an exhibition of original manuscripts that are part of UNESCO’s Memory of the World, as well as explore interactive cultural-based spaces.
The commemoration concluded solemnly with a religious music performance by the Debu music group and the reading of national poetry by Ferry Sandi.
The event, attended by around 1,000 people, was also witnessed by a delegation of honorary guests from within and outside the country.
Through this commemoration, the Ministry of Culture hopes that the moral values and fighting spirit of Sheikh Yusuf Al-Makassari can continue to inspire the younger generation.
This activity is not merely about remembering the past, but an effort to strengthen national identity and Indonesia’s strategic position in the international cultural diplomacy arena through the narrative of a figure who brought the “Dawn of Islam” to the tip of Africa.