DEMA Humaniora Holds Cultural Safari at Patirtaan Ngawonggo: Exploring and Preserving Local Cultural Values

HUMANIORA – (23/9/2024). The Student Executive Council (DEMA) of the Faculty of Humanities, through the Department of Arts and Culture, organized a Cultural Safari event at the Patirtaan Ngawonggo Site, Ngawonggo Village, Tajinan District, on Saturday, 21 September 2024. This event was attended by students from various universities in the Greater Malang area, as well as the Laboratory for Student and Alumni Development (LPMA), represented by Tamim Mulloh, M.Pd.

The Cultural Safari aimed to raise participants' awareness of the importance of understanding and preserving local culture and arts. In an era of increasing globalization, external cultural influences tend to overshadow local traditions. Therefore, this event was intended to provide an opportunity for students and the general public to reflect on, appreciate, and protect their cultural heritage.

In his speech, Tamim Mulloh, M.Pd., emphasized the vital role of students, as the younger generation, in actively participating in preserving and promoting local culture.

“We should be proud of our own culture. Our cultural heritage holds unique values that can attract a wider audience,” he said.

Tamim also addressed a growing trend among Generation Z, where they tend to admire foreign cultures, such as Korean and Japanese, more than their own local traditions.

“Young people are infatuated with foreign cultures, to the point that they sometimes want to be part of them rather than appreciating our own,” he added.

The Cultural Safari also highlighted the importance of the relationship between humans and nature, as well as among individuals, including the spiritual dimensions of life. Participants were introduced to Javanese philosophy, which emphasizes harmony with nature as a form of gratitude for its many benefits. Tamim further explained that manners and respect among people, as well as the relationship between humans and the spiritual realm, are key aspects of cultural teachings that should be preserved in everyday life.

Moreover, Tamim underlined that culture is not static but evolves with time.

“Traditional values are good, but if there is a new culture that provides greater benefits, we can adopt it,” he explained. He cited examples of lifestyle changes, such as the shift from preferring hot and stuffy huts to air-conditioned rooms, or from using horse-drawn carriages to motorcycles. According to him, these changes show that culture can adapt to modern developments, but it is important to discern which aspects are beneficial and which are not.

The Cultural Safari event is expected to give participants a deeper understanding of the richness of Javanese culture and how its values can be applied in modern life. The Faculty of Humanities also hopes that this event will inspire the academic community to be more concerned with preserving local culture and to make it an essential part of the nation's identity.

Through this event, DEMA of the Faculty of Humanities encourages the entire Humanities community and the general public to take an active role in safeguarding the invaluable richness of local culture. [al]