Nusantara, A Cultural Heartland for All Indonesians

TheIndonesia.co - The new Indonesian capital, Nusantara—or Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN)—is not just a future seat of government. It is envisioned as a shared home for Indonesia’s cultural identity, a place where the nation's diverse heritage can thrive and evolve.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon emphasized this vision during the first-ever Nusantara Culture Festival, held from May 30th to June 1st, 2025, in the Core Central Government Area (KIPP) in Sepaku, Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan.

"IKN is not just about governance, but a home for the collective culture of Indonesia," he stated, according to Antara News Agency.

This three-day festival—carrying the theme “Nusantara is us, we are Nusantara”—gathered over 500 participants from 33 regions and 25 cultural preservation centers across the country. From traditional dances to local crafts and culinary delights, the event was a vibrant expression of Indonesia’s living cultural diversity.

The festival opened with Betore, a traditional oral literature performance from the Paser Tribe—recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Indonesia—typically recited during harvest celebrations. It set the tone for a festival rich in heritage and heart.

A colorful parade around the Plaza Seremoni kicked off the event, showcasing traditional costumes, music, and dances from Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Maluku, and other parts of the archipelago. This energetic display of local pride was just one part of a broader celebration aimed at preserving and promoting cultural identity in the face of modernization.

Alimudin, Deputy of Social, Cultural, and Community Empowerment at the IKN Authority, echoed this commitment. “Nusantara Culture Festival shows that IKN is the embodiment of Indonesia itself,” he said. “The soul of our new capital must be rooted in culture.”

Looking ahead, the IKN Authority plans to make this festival an annual event, expanding it with even more communities and cultural showcases. The vision also includes long-term investments in cultural development: supporting local art studios, establishing cultural field schools, and building partnerships with regional Cultural Preservation Centers (BPK).

These efforts are part of a broader mandate to ensure that the foundation of IKN’s development is cultural wisdom, as outlined in Law No. 5/2017 on Cultural Advancement and Law No. 21/2023 on the National Capital.

The government, under President Prabowo Subianto, sees culture as a form of national soft power—a way to shape identity, build unity, and present Indonesia to the world as a beacon of pluralism, wisdom, and creativity.

“We want IKN to become not only the administrative capital,” Minister Fadli Zon said, “but also the center of Indonesian civilization—shining with the light of diversity and culture.”

The festival also highlighted the role of small and creative enterprises (UMKM), especially those from East Kalimantan, whose crafts and culinary products added depth and texture to the cultural celebration. These efforts align with the government's goal to ensure that local traditions don’t fade with time, but instead thrive in the new capital.

There are already discussions to evolve this initiative into a larger Nusantara Cultural Carnival, one that brings together even more cultural communities from across the islands. With each performance and shared story, IKN is taking its first real steps—not only as a modern capital—but as a living museum of Indonesian heritage, accessible to all and proud of its roots.