Indonesia Revives Folk Storytelling to Strengthen Cultural Identity

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is stepping up efforts to revive folk storytelling as part of a broader cultural strategy to strengthen national identity, preserve oral traditions, and help shape the character of younger generations. The initiative was highlighted during the 2026 Indonesian Folk Story Gala Awards held by the Ministry of Culture in Jakarta on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, said the event marked only the beginning of a larger movement to bring folk narratives back into public life. He noted that the gala also served as a mapping exercise, showing strong public enthusiasm for storytelling traditions across the country.

According to him, the competition drew more than 1,700 submissions from all 34 provinces, spanning categories for children, teenagers, adults, educators, and people with disabilities. He said the response reflected the enduring relevance of Indonesia’s oral traditions in a country with 1,340 ethnic groups, 718 local languages, and more than 17,000 islands.

“We hope this is only the beginning,” Fadli said. “The large number of participants shows that our folk stories can be revived and brought back into the lives of our communities.”

Fadli described folk stories as a powerful vehicle for transmitting values, cultural awareness, and moral lessons to younger generations. He said storytelling not only nurtures imagination, but also helps develop emotional intelligence, spiritual awareness, and character from an early age.

“Storytelling is very important for the brain. It is scientific,” he said. “Food is essential for IQ, but storytelling and folktales are important for our emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence, and for shaping children’s character.”

The ministry plans to follow up the gala with a nationwide “Indonesia Tells Stories” movement, which will include workshops, incubation programs, and the development of a new generation of storytellers. The initiative is expected to expand to multiple regions and communities, including coastal, farming, and multicultural areas, as part of a broader effort to revitalize oral traditions.

Fadli also said technological advances have opened new possibilities for storytelling, allowing folk narratives to be adapted into film, short-form videos, and social media content on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. He added that storytelling could also become part of Indonesia’s cultural economy, creating new opportunities to bring traditional narratives to wider audiences at home and abroad.