The cultural carnival of the Archipelago in West Papua is a unifying event

The Nusantara Cultural Carnival activity in commemoration of the 77th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia in Manokwari, the capital city of West Papua Province, became a unifying event.
 
One of the cultural carnival participants from the Women's Association or Finya Maybrat, Yosephus Kosamakh in Manokwari, Saturday, said the cultural carnival was also a cross-cultural introduction event that gave rise to motivation to continue to know the culture in West Papua.
 
"Because if there is no culture, we have no self-respect and other people don't recognize us. With culture, we will be strong," he said.
 
Yosephus gave an example of himself and 13 other people who came directly from Maybrat Regency to take part in the cultural carnival in Manokwari Regency by wearing traditional woven clothes which are usually used as dowry for weddings.
 
In addition to traditional clothes, he also hangs a necklace made of beads around his neck. Regarding the beaded necklace, Yosephus said that the parents used to use it as an exchange value for goods or barter.
 
"The exchange depends on the agreement that occurs between the buyer and the owner of the goods they want to exchange," he said.
 
For Yosephus, the cultural carnival should be able to run without waiting for a momentum like Independence Day, but rather present in similar activities that are still aimed at bringing together all the cultures of the archipelago in one container.
 
The one-day cultural carnival activity was still considered important by Josephus. Because according to him, the younger generation who are far from the presence of technology need to be reintroduced to culture.
 
Meanwhile, Head of the Cultural Division of the West Papua Culture and Tourism Office, Herman Sayori, said that the cultural carnival activity was aimed at protecting and preserving and utilizing the existing culture in the region.
 
Cultural development, called Herman, has been mandated in Law Number 5 of 2017 concerning the Advancement of Culture. The promotion of culture aims at the same time forming a firmness that culture is a pillar that can make the nation and society individual and economically independent and politically sovereign.
 
Herman advised that cultural preservation be carried out with love and brotherhood so that the preservation and protection of the cultural heritage of the ancestors can create an independent, united, sovereign, just and prosperous society.
 
Assistant II for Economics and Development of the West Papua Provincial Secretariat, Melkias Warinussa, reminded that culture is related to national identity which has four consensus, namely ideology, philosophy, views, and way of life but which is upheld is the value of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika or different but still one.

"I am always proud to watch a parade or ballet in a cultural carnival. As an indigenous people who inhabit West Papua, we must be proud of local wisdom that is formed from the landscape and geographical conditions," said Melkias.
The Cultural Carnival Line on Jalan Pahlawan, Manokwari Regency, Saturday (13/8/2022). (ANTARA/Rachmat Julaini)
 
Participants in the cultural carnival are estimated at 200 people from eight associations in West Papua. The cultural carnival, which begins and ends at Jalan Percetakan Negara Manokwari, is not only a walking parade but also an arena for performing local dances such as Yospan (Maybrat), Ja'i Dance (NTT), 4 Ethnic Dance (South Sulawesi) and martial arts performances. (Madura).

SOURCE: https://papuabarat.antaranews.com/berita/17377/karnaval-kultur-nusantara-di-papua-barat-jadi-ajang-pemersatu