This year, the Faculty of Cultural Studies (FIB) Universitas Brawijaya (UB) celebrates its 15th anniversary with the theme PANCADASA, Basa busananing bangsa, ngrembaka ing kalasuba. This theme has a deep meaning. Pancadasa comes from Sanskrit, which means Fifteen. FCS UB is fifteen years old. If this is a human, it has entered high school age, starting to look for and establish its identity.
FCS UB’s identity is in the fields of language, literature, language and literature education, art, and the studies of humans themselves. Therefore, FCS UB establishes itself with the full awareness that Basa Busananing Bangsa, Language, and Culture are the identity of the Nation. Hence, FCS UB is committed to the field totally and completely, developing the humanities amid the era of digital technological advances.
That is why FCS UB encourages us all to Ngrembaka ing Kalasuba together to develop in the golden age, an age where Humans – with all the sophisticated technology they created – managed to surpass themselves to be better, prosperous, and happy.
Several series of events have been arranged to celebrate this anniversary, including the Pimpinan Melukis, which was held on Monday (9/30/2024) for vice deans and Wednesday (10/2/2024) specifically for UB deans; Cosplay Fun Run held on Sunday (10/20/2024) at UB Dieng; Art Installation held from Monday (11/4/2024) to Thursday (11/7/2024) at the UB rectorate Hall; and the peak, the ASB Cultural Sabda Award which was held on Tuesday (11/5/2024) in Ballroom 1, Grand Mercure Hotel, Malang.
Several renowned artists and cultural figures, including Indonesian diva Krisdayanti, attended the event. In addition, other important guests who attended were Seno Gumira Ajidarma, who became a cultural orator at this activity, and Wina Bojonegoro, who was the recipient of the first literary award at the ASB FCS UB event.
The event was hosted by two presenters, Arsih Amalia, M.I.Kom., and Mirzah Ardiansyah, M.M. After the guests sang the national anthem, Indonesia Raya, and the UB Hymn, the event began with an opening dance, Grebeg Sabrang Mask Dance, this dance depicts a group of troops preparing to leave for the battlefield bravely, ferociously, and mighty as well as mysterious.
Grebeg Sabrang Mask Dance is a dance that has a dashing nature, as shown through large-volume movements. This dance means grebeg /garebeg, which is accompanied by bala akeh or many soldiers. It depicts a line of soldiers who departed to fulfill the King’s command. The red mask and costume symbolize Sabrang’s brave and mysterious nature.
Dean of FCS UB, Hamamah, Ph.D., said that FCS aims to appreciate intellectual and cultural works, particularly from Malang, East Java, artists.
“ASB was first initiated by FCS UB in 2018 under the leadership of Prof. Agus Suman, the dean of FCS UB. Since then, we have consistently developed this ASB to continue to be a forum for the appreciation of artists, culturalists, and musicians who have made extraordinary contributions to our cultural life,” explained Hamamah.
“FCS UB is the only university that gives awards to artists. The hope of giving the Anugerah Sabda Budaya is to motivate artists to continue creating valuable works,” she added.
The main activity of this ASB is that FCS UB gives awards to art activists and social humanities figures in Indonesia. The assessment of this award is based on certain considerations and research from the board of curators formed by the FCS UB team.
Some of the names that joined the board of curators this year were Prof. Dr. Djoko Saryono, M.Pd. from UM as chairman, and members Winarto Ekram, S.Sn. who is an artist, Syarifudin, S.Pd. from the Panji Museum, Ir. Hengki Herwanto, MBA. from the Indonesian Music Museum, as well as Yusri Fajar, and M. Fatoni from FCS UB.
This year, FIB UB provided three new category nominations, namely in the field of Music Art, the Culturally Responsive Government, and incentives to Language Preservationists. At this year’s ASB, FCS was assisted by the Sedulur Mangliawan Community in giving awards to the nominees.
Among the awardees was Sasti Gotama from Cilacap, Central Java, who received the ASB in the Literature category. In the Fine Arts category, Koeboe Sarawan from Batu City is present, following Mbah Karimun (alm) from Pakisaji for the Tradition category, whose presence was represented by his successor, Handoyo. Ian Antono from Jakarta was honored in the Music Arts category.
In the Culturally Responsive Government category, there is Yudil Chatim, S.kM., M.Ed., who comes from Attaché of Education and Culture and is one of the supporters of the establishment of the Indonesian Culture House by FCS UB at Tianjin Foreign Studies University, China. Meanwhile, Teater Api Indonesia from Surabaya is classified as an incentive recipient in the Art / Culture Community category. Furthermore, Adrian Pawitra (alm) from Madura is a recipient of the Language Preservation category incentive. Adrian is the creator of the Madura-Indonesian dictionary.
One of the awardees, Teater Api Indonesia, is a theater art performance that uses fire to express the story’s meaning to the audience. The theater artists also created a magical atmosphere by forming various patterns through movement with fire, making them a unique and exciting theater art group with a distinctive identity.
In the middle of the event, Ian Antono, who is a nominee in this year’s Musical Arts category, entertained the audience by performing his guitar playing with the D’Barokah band and performed a duet with Krisdayanti, singing the song Rumah Kita. Ian Antono is a legendary Indonesian guitarist who has been actively involved in the music industry since the 1970s and joined the band God Bless.
Ian Antono admits that Malang has a special meaning for him.
“Many of my songs tell about my life in Malang,” he explains.
He also admitted that he was amazed when being asked regarding his comments that there is a campus that cares about artists and culturalists.
“FCS UB is amazing! I didn’t believe it at first. What did I get invited here for? It turns out I got one of the awards,” he said.
The event continued with a cultural oration delivered by Seno Gumira and continued by the theatricalization of FCS UB students known as Teater Lingkar.
The event was closed at 12.20 pm by musical entertainment from the band D’Barokah, which performed several songs created by ASB 2024 nominee Ian Antono, one of which was entitled “Semut Hitam,” as well as several songs from Krisdayanti.
UB Vice Rector for Finance and Resources, Prof. Dr. Muchamad Ali Safaat, S.H., M.H., also appreciated this event.
“We appreciate the Anugerah Sabda Budaya organized by FCS UB because the development of culture is important to create happiness for humans. Not all aspects can be fulfilled by the development of science alone or technology. However, cultural areas must be developed because it will determine how a nation develops,” said M. Ali. Safaat.
Regarding UB’s synergy with the cultural community, the Vice-Rector for Finance and Resources said that UB had made various efforts, especially through FCS UB.
“We always try to embrace and cooperate with various cultural communities; that is what FCS UB has done and is doing. By working with communities, especially those in Malang Raya,” he concluded. [acl/dts/PR FCS]
