Digging the authentic culture, Sikka villagers hold people’s party

Sekami children performed a Sikka traditional dance at People’s Party.
Friday, December 23, 2016

The dream of Sikka villagers to relieve old memories that almost gone extinct due to technological development that has entered the people’s mind has finally been answered, that is, Sikka’s authentic traditional culture. It has been decades since the traditional culture of Sikka was last introduced to the younger generation.

Sikka’s authentic culture is now ‘awakened’ and re-celebrated by holding a people’s party that involves all the villagers to reenact it once more. People’s party becomes a time of nostalgia for the old and elderly while as an introduction to younger generation, especially children who were born in the 2000s. Apart from that, this activity is an event for Sekami children to express their talent in dancing, drama, local games, singing, etc. This makes them love their birthplace’s authentic culture. Sekami is a group of children who are incorporated in the States Pontifical Missionary Children and Adolescents.

Ignasius Mikhael Riwu, Sikka Village Chief, said when approached during the event, "This event we deliberately plan to re-introduce what became the legacy of our ancestors to the children and young people so they can protect it in the midst of the current modern lifestyle." 

The village government gave full space for children from kindergarten to middle-school to become key people since the planning stage of the event, forming a small committee and also became the actors in various cultural attractions. Additionally, funding came from village budget integrated with World Vision Indonesia (WVI), which means, village government became more open and supportive of children’s talent development.

“I am very happy because this event is so big and it involves all of us, children and their parents. We love Sikka’s traditional culture even more. Thank you to the village chief and WVI who always support us,” Yosefina Edelborga Clarita, an elementary school student in Sikka, really appreciated the event.

Ignatius said that he plans to make people’s party a yearly agenda for Sikka village government and people by involving children. Currently the village has become open with budget and gave room for children talent development. With supported by WVI, the village will also becoming a child-friendly village.  

Written by Emanuel Laba and Herning Tyas Ekaristi, WV Indonesia Sikka Operational Office