Samosir Music International Serves as International Collaboration Hub
- 08 Jul 2026 20:46 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- Samosir Music International (SMI) 2026 concluded on 4 July 2026, reinforcing Lake Toba’s position as a hub for international cultural collaboration.
- The festival featured musicians from Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Cuba, and Venezuela performing alongside Batak and Indonesian artists.
RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Samosir Music International (SMI) 2026, which ran until 4 July, reaffirmed Lake Toba’s role in North Sumatra as an international cultural collaboration hub. The annual festival brought together musicians from countries including Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Cuba, and Venezuela to blend their sounds with Batak musical traditions.
Yonatan, who has lived in Germany for 25 years, said he felt fortunate to retrace the culture of his mother, a Boru Simamora, marking his second return since 2019. “This brought back so many memories, and I am deeply moved and honored to be invited to my homeland,” he said in an SMI 2026 press release in Jakarta on Tuesday, 7 July 2026.
Yonatan also brought his 16-year-old son to see Lake Toba’s beauty firsthand. “So, he knows where his roots come from. So far, he’s really enjoying this slice of paradise,” he said, as quoted by Antara.
He invited his musical colleague Stephen Dominic Ellery from the UK, who has toured Europe with him for the past three years, to perform at the festival. “I think Maestro Stephen Dominic Ellery will talk about this experience for a long time,” said Yonatan.
At SMI, they had the opportunity to collaborate with Indonesian musicians such as Punxgoaran and the Viky Sianipar Band, performing Dang Marnamuba Ho by Willy Hutasoit.
Yonatan thanked everyone involved for their hard work in making the festival a success. His first appearance at SMI was in 2019 with the German group Sons and Preachers.
International artists have been a major draw for SMI since the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) series began. This year, audiences enjoyed energetic performances by Maite Hontelé y La Novia from the Netherlands and compelling sets from Stephen Dominic Ellery of the UK. Musicians from Germany, Spain, Cuba, and Venezuela also teamed up with Batak and Indonesian artists to present cross-cultural compositions.
The festival grew livelier as international musicians not only played their native music but also took part in Batak-flavored performances. The fusion of modern instruments with gondang, hasapi, sulim, and traditional vocal styles produced a musical experience warmly received by audiences at the Open Stage in Tuktuk.
Foreign visitors mingled with locals to witness collaborations that demonstrated how music can transcend language, culture, and national boundaries.
Acting CEO of Lake Toba Authority Implementing Agency (BPODT), Arditama Nusantara Putra, said the presence of international musicians had a positive impact on the region and showed that Lake Toba is increasingly known as an international cultural collaboration space.
“Samosir Music International demonstrates that Lake Toba has the appeal to connect artists from across the globe. The collaborations on this stage not only deliver high-quality entertainment but also strengthen Lake Toba’s tourism promotion through cultural approaches. This is the face of tourism we want to encourage, which is quality and sustainable tourism that benefits local communities,” he said.
SMI’s initiator and Event Director, Henry Manik, expressed hope that the festival would continue growing as a platform of cultural diplomacy that introduces Lake Toba to the world. He added that international collaborations will always be the festival’s spirit.
“When musicians from Europe and Latin America play alongside Batak artists, they create experiences you can’t find anywhere else,” said Manik. ***
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