Isak Tunya and Melani Bame Selected as Papua Language Ambassadors for 2026

Wamena (ANTARA) - Isak Samuel Tunya and Melani Tebout Bame have been selected as the Papua Language Ambassadors for 2026, after outshining nine other pairs at the grand finale of the selection event in Jayapura, Papua, on Saturday night.

The Head of the Papua Language Agency, Valentina L Tanate, in Jayapura on Saturday night, stated that the selection of Papua Language Ambassadors is a development programme for young people in Indonesia, particularly in Papua.

“This event is not only held by the Papua Language Agency office every year, but by all language agency offices throughout Indonesia. From the judges’ assessment from start to finish, Isak Samuel Tunya and Melani Tebout Bame were selected as the Papua Language Ambassadors for 2026,” she said.

According to her, participants in the Papua Language Ambassador selection came from six provinces in Papua, including Papua, South Papua, Central Papua, Papua Mountains, West Papua, and Southwest Papua.

She explained that the purpose of the Papua Language Ambassadors is for those selected to preserve the 428 regional languages existing in Papua.

“Currently, there are 729 regional languages in Indonesia, 428 of which are in Papua. Therefore, through this event, we encourage young people to become partners of the Papua Language Agency in preserving the regional languages in Papua,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Chair of the Family Empowerment and Welfare Movement (TP PKK) in Papua, Rafatul Mulkiyah Fakiri, hopes that this event can provide education to young people in the region to better appreciate local, Indonesian, and foreign languages.