MPR Member Urges Public to Nurture Diversity through Art
Banyumas (ANTARA) - MPR member Siti Mukaromah has urged the public to continue nurturing the nation’s diversity through arts and culture as part of strengthening unity amid Indonesia’s societal diversity.
While opening the “Cultural Harmonisation - Nurturing Diversity with the Foundation of the Four Pillars of the Nation” dialogue as part of the “Banyumas Ngibing 24 Jam Menari” activities at the Pendopo Adipati Marapat in Banyumas sub-district, Banyumas Regency, Central Java, on Saturday afternoon, she stated that culture plays an important role as a glue for national and state life.
“Today, we gather to preserve and maintain the culture we have. One of them is through ngibing or dancing, which is part of uniting Indonesian society,” she said.
According to her, the diversity possessed by the Indonesian nation must be viewed as a strength capable of uniting, not as a source of division.
“When we differ, we are united, one of which is through culture. It is hoped that events like this become a cultural strength that unites us as Indonesian citizens,” she said.
The member of Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, affectionately known as Erma, assessed that the “Banyumas Ngibing 24 Jam Menari” activity not only presents art performances but also involves artists, UMKM actors, cultural communities, and the younger generation.
“I want to remind that the four pillars that form the basis for us as Indonesian citizens must not be forgotten,” she said.
She assessed that the strong influence of foreign culture in the globalisation era must be balanced with pride in the nation’s own culture.
Assistant Deputy for Development of Amenities and Accessibility of Region I Tourism from the Ministry of Tourism, Bambang Cahyo Murdoko, stated that activities like “Banyumas Ngibing” demonstrate that culture can not only be staged as an artistic expression but also as a space for dialogue, learning, and forming a shared identity.
According to him, culture can also drive community economy through the involvement of UMKM, creative communities, the hospitality sector, and job absorption.
“If culture is continuously preserved, then culture can also prosper the community. The economy grows, UMKM grows, the community is involved, and the tourism sector moves,” he said.
He hopes that “Banyumas Ngibing” continues to develop as an inspirational, inclusive, and sustainable cultural space, and in the future can become part of the Nusantara Karisma Event.
The “Banyumas Ngibing 24 Jam Menari” activity was held in the Banyumas Old Town area on 2-3 May 2026, featuring dance performances, cultural dialogues, murals, and various art activities involving cultural communities from Banyumas as well as other regions and abroad.