Affirming Cultural Role, UIN Jakarta Builds Literary Appreciation Tradition through Pestarama#10 Performance

Jakarta, UIN Online News - UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta has once again proven itself as a higher education institution that not only emphasizes academic achievement but also provides ample space for students' creativity and artistic expression. This is reflected in the Pekan Apresiasi Sastra dan Drama (Literature and Drama Appreciation Week) or Pestarama #10, organized by the Indonesian Language and Literature Education Study Program (PBSI) of the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training Sciences (FITK), held at the Bulungan Theater Building, South Jakarta, Tuesday (20/05/2025).

For three days, Pestarama became an appreciation stage that not only showcased the students' theatrical abilities but also revived important works in Indonesian literary heritage. Carrying the theme "Relung Langkah Budayawan Muslim Indonesia #2" (The Niche of Indonesian Muslim Cultural Figures' Steps #2), this event was a form of homage to the contributions of Muslim cultural figures who have colored the world of Indonesian literature with works rich in spiritual values, social criticism, and culture.

This year's performances featured three major works by Indonesian writers: "Masyitoh" by Ajip Rosidi, "Tikungan Iblis" (The Devil's Bend) by Emha Ainun Nadjib (Cak Nun), and "Iblis" (The Devil) by Mohammad Diponegoro. All three were performed profoundly and with full appreciation by sixth-semester students who had undergone a long creative process and training. "Masyitoh" opened the show with a story about a woman's steadfast faith in facing Pharaoh's tyranny, stirring the audience's emotions through a strong spiritual nuance.

And Emha Ainun Najib's "Tikungan Iblis," presented with a satirical style critiquing Indonesia's socio-political reality, offered a sharp reflection on humanity, temptation, and hypocrisy within the power system. Meanwhile, "Iblis" concluded the series by touching on the story of Prophet Ibrahim's and his family's faith, emphasizing the importance of steadfastness in facing life's trials.

The three performances successfully captivated more than 800 audience members from among lecturers, students, alumni, and the general public. Positive responses emerged, not only due to the high quality of the performances but also because of the courage to stage scripts full of meaning and high literary value.

As part of the event series, Pestarama also featured an exhibition of written works and documentation of the creative process undertaken by students while preparing for the performances. This exhibition became a reflective space showing how the drama production process is also part of character and intellectual education.

Pestarama #10 is not just an annual routine agenda, but a tangible representation of UIN Jakarta's mission in shaping students who are not only academically intelligent but also rich in cultural, spiritual, and humanitarian values. UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta continues to demonstrate that a campus is not only a place for learning but also a laboratory of life, a place where students are forged into whole individuals in knowledge, arts, and culture.

By continuously bringing to life the works of great Indonesian writers, UIN Jakarta becomes a bridge between the current generation and the noble values inherited through literature. This campus not only teaches literature but also nurtures it, brings it to life, and reintroduces it to the world, through the creative hands of its students.

(M. Hanif Al-Fatih/Zaenal M./Noeni Indah S./Foto: Panitia Pelaksana Pestarama#10)