KBRN, Maros: The Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Fadli Zon, delivered a keynote speech during the 13th National Community Service Program (KKN Kebangsaan XIII) hosted by Hasanuddin University. Held at the university’s Educational Forest in Maros, South Sulawesi, Thursday (3/7/2025), the minister presented a session titled “World Heritage and National Action,” highlighting the importance of preserving cultural sites and the role of youth in strengthening national identity through culture.

In front of hundreds of students from universities across Indonesia, Minister Fadli emphasized the rare opportunity for young people to serve in an area of global cultural significance. He described the Maros-Pangkep region as a strategic site, part of both the UNESCO Global Geopark and the Biosphere Reserve, and currently proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“This is the home of the world’s oldest cave paintings, dated to 51,200 years ago, signs of the earliest imagination and human thought. These are not just marks on stone; they are the very beginnings of human expression,” said the minister.

Minister Fadli stressed that these discoveries not only elevate South Sulawesi's position in global archaeology but also reinforce Indonesia's identity as one of the oldest living civilizations. He referred to the Leang-Leang site as a tangible testament that the archipelago has long been home to early modern humans.

During his lecture, the minister introduced two major narratives for shaping Indonesia’s cultural vision. First, Indonesia as one of the world’s oldest civilizations, evidenced by ancient fossils, rock art, and archaeological findings that account for nearly 60% of Homo erectus remains globally. Second, Indonesia as a mega-diverse nation, home to 1,340 ethnic groups and 718 local languages, representing 10% of the world’s linguistic diversity.

He stated that this diversity should not be viewed as a challenge but as a powerful asset, if managed with the spirit of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity). Culture, he said, must serve as the binding force of national identity. “This is a unique strength that many nations do not possess,” he added.

Highlighting Sulawesi’s cultural richness, Fadli pointed to its prehistoric cave paintings, the Pinisi maritime heritage recognized by UNESCO in 2017, and the La Galigo manuscript listed under UNESCO’s Memory of the World in 2011. He called for Indonesia to build cultural soft power through what he termed the “Indonesian Wave.”

The event, attended by 177 students from 99 universities, is themed “World Heritage Cultural Tourism as a National Action: Impactful Campuses Serving the Nation.” Minister Fadli urged the youth to become cultural ambassadors in their communities, regardless of their future professions.

“Every interaction, documentation, and educational effort you make during this program becomes part of a collective movement to preserve and revitalize our heritage,” he concluded.