Indonesia Promotes Children’s Songs to Introduce Culture from an Early Age

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture held the Kita Cinta Lagu Anak Indonesia 2026, or “We Love Indonesian Children’s Songs,” event in Jakarta on Sunday September 27, 2026. The program featured awards for the Children’s Songwriting Competition and the Children’s Singing Competition as part of efforts to strengthen the ecosystem for Indonesian children’s music.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, said children’s songs can serve as an early medium for introducing Indonesian culture to younger generations. He noted that children’s songs have become relatively limited in recent years, making efforts to develop quality children’s music increasingly important.

“Because children’s songs are relatively rare, we hope they can become a medium for introducing culture to children from an early age,” he said during the event in Jakarta. He added that children’s songs are generally characterized by simple melodies and rhymes and often address emotions, movement, and other themes that can bring joy to children.

Fadli said the program is expected to encourage the creation of children’s songs that are not only entertaining but also educational and appropriate for their age groups. He said such songs can also contribute to children’s character development through music and age-appropriate cultural content.

The children’s singing competition involved participants ranging from five to 13 years old. Fadli expressed hope that the songs performed by the young participants would become widely enjoyed and reach broader audiences.

The Minster said program attracted 814 participants across various categories. He said the participation demonstrated the potential of young Indonesian talents while encouraging both songwriters and young singers to develop their abilities.

Fadli also said Indonesia needs to encourage the emergence of a new generation of children’s songwriters. “We hope to see new Ibu Suds, new A.T. Mahmuds, new Daljonos, and others,” he said, referring to prominent Indonesian figures known for creating children’s songs.

Through Kita Cinta Lagu Anak Indonesia 2026, the Ministry of Culture aims to strengthen children’s music as part of Indonesia’s cultural ecosystem. The initiative is also expected to provide children with age-appropriate musical content while creating opportunities for young talents and songwriters to contribute to the preservation and development of Indonesian cultural expression.