President Jokowi Inaugurates Keris Nusantara Museum

President Jokowi cuts the ribbon to mark the inauguration of the Keris Nusantara Museum, in Solo, Wednesday (9/8) afternoon. (Photo: Anggun/PR)

Concluding his working visit in Central Java, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, accompanied by First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo, inaugurated the Keris (traditional Indonesian dagger) Nusantara Museum, in Solo, Wednesday (9/8) afternoon. In addition to signing the inscription, President Jokowi also reviewed the museum to see its keris collections.

In his speech, the President mentioned that Indonesian youngsters now prefer to hold the smartphone or gadget to a keris. In fact, keris is a nation’s cultural heritage that has very high philosophical values. And, keris of Indonesia has been confirmed as a non-material cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2005. “It means that although we seek to pursue progress, we must not abandon our tradition, we must not abandon the noble values ??of the nation. To that end, we should continue to maintain and preserve the nation’s cultural heritage, including keris,” the President said.

President Jokowi admitted that he is pleased, although waiting for four years, Museum of Keris that has long been waited finally completed. With the presence of this museum, President Jokowi hope we can see the journey of the history of keris, spear, sword, and others, which is part of the cultural heritage of our nation.

According to the President, when he visited Turkey, President Erdogan exhibited a very beautiful keris from Indonesia. Likewise, when he went to Russia, President Putin also had one, which was kept in a special room that he had. “The philosophical values ?? that exist in keris are what causes them amazed and collect keris from Indonesia,” the President said, adding that he has many keris collections, which he will give to this museum. “I give these keris to the museum, let the museum treat them. I cannot take care of myself,” the President said.

President Jokowi hoped that the Keris Nusantara Museum can be a manifestation of our appreciation of cultural arts as well as a source of inspiration of Javanese cultural values, cultural values ??of the archipelago, because each tribe must have a traditional weapon. “For example, Dayak tribe has Mandau, Aceh has Rencong, Sundanese has Kujang, South Sulawesi has Badik, and everything becomes a cultural arts richness of the archipelago that we have to keep and preserve,” the President concluded. (DND/GUN/ES) (MUR/YM/Naster).