"Mondo Nusantara" Concert Showcases Indonesian-Italian Cultural Collaboration

The Indonesian Embassy in Rome organised the “Mondo Nusantara” concert, showcasing a collaborative musical performance between Indonesia and Italy. Held at Wisma Duta KBRI Roma on Friday (12/6), the concert featured MegaMauro as the main act—an international musical duo consisting of Mega Sihombing, an Indonesian singer, and Mauro Goia, an Italian pianist, composer, and showman. Embracing the concept of Artistry in Real Time, the duo presented a live music performance blending traditional Indonesian music, particularly from the Lake Toba region of North Sumatra, with classic Italian songs, according to a written statement from the embassy on Sunday. The title “Mondo Nusantara” combines two languages: mondo in Italian means world, so it literally means “World of the Archipelago”. “The name itself is already a symbol of the meeting of two cultures, as well as an invitation for the Italian public to get to know Indonesian culture more closely, in line with the event’s purpose as a bridge for cultural diplomacy between the two nations,” the embassy stated. The performance opened with a medley of regional songs from the archipelago, including Ampar-Ampar Pisang from Kalimantan and Yamko Rambe Yamko from Papua, which were then interwoven with classic Italian songs such as Funiculì Funiculà. A special highlight was the appearance of the angklung—a traditional Indonesian bamboo musical instrument designated by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010—played by Mauro Goia in a cross-cultural medley with the legendary Italian song O Sole Mio. The performance then presented the rich music and dance from the Lake Toba region of North Sumatra, which served as the inspiration for Mondo Nusantara. The audience was treated to the accompaniment of gondang—a Batak zither played live by Mega Sihombing, as well as flute playing by Italian musician Francesca Salandri. The presence of Francesca Salandri performing a traditional Indonesian repertoire was a tangible manifestation of the collaborative spirit that animated the performance. The show featured Batak songs such as Butet and Horas, accompanied by several dances. During this segment, Adeline and Abigail, two Indonesian children living in Italy, appeared to introduce ulos. The atmosphere grew even warmer when Indonesian Ambassador to Italy Junimart Girsang duetted with Mega Sihombing, performing the songs Bubuy Bulan, Che Sara, and My Way. Underscoring the importance of artistic collaboration as a bridge between nations, Ambassador Girsang conveyed that Indonesia and Italy—though separated by great distance—share many similarities, including a deep love for art, music, and tradition. “Through collaborations like this, we are reminded that art has an extraordinary power to transcend language, distance, and differences, and to foster deeper mutual understanding and appreciation between the two nations,” he said. The “Mondo Nusantara” concert was attended by approximately 80 invited guests, including members of the diplomatic corps, stakeholders in the arts and culture sector, local media, and the Italian public. Before the concert began, the invited guests were treated to a variety of typical Indonesian dishes and delicacies, such as soto ayam, lontong with goat meat, fried noodles, egg martabak, and sweet martabak. The organisation of this event is part of the Indonesian Embassy in Rome’s cultural diplomacy efforts to strengthen Indonesia’s image in Italy through an artistic approach, broaden the reach of local appreciation for the cultural heritage of the archipelago, and simultaneously strengthen the friendship between the two nations through sustainable cultural dialogue.