Arts and Entertainment

Indonesian Culture Takes Center Stage at Taipei’s Formosa Warrior Festival

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By Ryan Wu/Irene Lin

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Dressed in intricate, handcrafted traditional outfits inspired by East Javanese folklore and island heritage, hundreds of Indonesian migrant workers took part in a lively Sunday parade through central Taipei. Now in its third year, the Formosa Warrior Culture Festival has moved to Taipei’s 228 Memorial Park and featured Mandarin interpretation for the first time to help Taiwanese audiences connect with traditional Indonesian dances, fashion shows, and a symbolic tumpeng-cutting ceremony. Representatives from the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office in Taipei praised the festival as a way to foster mutual respect and deepen cultural appreciation between Taiwan and Indonesia.

Dressed in colorful traditional outfits... a large group of Indonesians took part in a Sunday parade, bringing cheers, music, and their cultures to the streets of Taipei.

Among them is Cahya, who made his entire outfit from scratch. After working in Taiwan for 10 years... he says events like this are part of why he’s stayed.

CAHYA, FASHION SHOW CONTESTANT:
"I really enjoy working in Taiwan. I don't feel the need to rush back to Indonesia because there is so much Indonesian culture here. Beyond earning a good living here, we can also travel, enjoy ourselves and express ourselves through events like this."

The Formosa Warrior Culture Festival – now in its third year -- aims to showcase Indonesia’s diverse island cultures and folklore to audiences in Taiwan... including outfits inspired by an East Javanese goddess.

After starting at a much smaller venue, the festival has now moved to Taipei’s 228 Memorial Park. This year’s event also featured Mandarin interpretation for the first time.

HSU MENG-HAN, MANDARIN EMCEE:
"What’s different this year is that we’ve added Mandarin interpretation. I’ll be explaining the program to the audience in Mandarin. This year’s event again features a fashion show and traditional Indonesian dances. We’ve also planned a series of traditional Indonesian activities such as a tumpeng-cutting ceremony which symbolizes blessings and gratitude."

As of this year, Taiwan has welcomed over three hundred thousand migrant workers from Indonesia... its largest migrant worker source country.

Indonesia’s representative office in Taiwan says it hopes to see more events like this, not just to promote cultural exchanges, but also to foster greater understanding between the two societies.

JOHANES ANDI SUSANTO, DEPUTY REPRESENTATIVE, INDONESIAN ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE TO TAIPEI:
"I urge all Indonesian migrant workers to continue sharing positive messages with the public, while embracing Taiwan's culture with courtesy, humility, and respect for public order. Most importantly, take care of your health so you can continue working and build a better future."

With the September sun blazing over their heads, the crowd’s enthusiasm only grew as they saw their months of preparation pay off...giving them a day to celebrate their culture and proudly share where they came from.