Performing on the International Stage, Niesya Harahap Proudly Introduces Indonesian Culture

Medan (ANTARA) – Pursuing a passion for music while also meeting the academic demands of a Master’s program in Psychology at the University of Indonesia is how Niesya Ridhania Harahap chooses to express herself. Her deep love for music since childhood has nurtured a strong artistic spirit within her. Beyond music, Niesya also possesses talents in dance and vocal performance.

Her artistic abilities have been further refined through her involvement in the Batak Opera Music Group “Mataniari”, where she performs both as a singer and dancer with traditional Batak roots.

In addition, Niesya is also a member of Suarasama, a band known for its world music genre.
Her experiences with Mataniari and Suarasama have taken her across the globe, promoting Indonesian local culture on international stages.

“During my time with Mataniari and Suarasama, I’ve had the opportunity to perform at national events like the Indonesian Cultural Congress and the National Culture Week, as well as internationally at events like the Europalia Festival in Belgium and the Netherlands, the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, and even in Spain,” said the Batak-blooded woman during a Zoom interview on Thursday (May 5).

The daughter of the late Irwansyah Harahap and Ritha Hutajulu, Niesya has a deep concern for cultural preservation, as she believes that culture is an essential part of human identity.

“Since I was little, I was made aware of the importance of culture. It’s important that we understand our own culture because it represents our identity as individuals. If we don’t know our culture, then we don’t know our roots. It’s like an identity crisis,” she explained.

For Niesya, culture is identity. Her pride in Indonesian culture fuels her passion to keep creating traditional art. As part of the younger generation, people like Niesya are crucial in carrying forward the values of cultural appreciation, preservation, and sustainability.

Her experience performing Indonesian culture through music and dance has shaped her perspective that a truly advanced nation is one that firmly preserves its traditions and culture.

“Culture also represents our national identity. I really felt this when I was abroad. I realized there’s a difference—I had to be able to introduce Indonesia. I had to consider: what values should I convey? When speaking with foreigners, what am I representing, and what should I know? If I can’t represent that well, I feel like I’ve failed. That’s when I truly understood how important it is to know our own culture,” she said.

Therefore, Indonesian culture—especially local music—requires greater appreciation and attention, to ensure it continues to be preserved and passed down to future generations. After all, what represents Indonesia is its multiculturalism.

“I hope that Indonesian culture and traditions will continue to be preserved in their essence so that the knowledge passed down from our ancestors is not lost. I want Indonesian music to have distinct characteristics that truly represent the nation. For example, in the past, there was keroncong music, which was uniquely Indonesian in its cultural elements,” Niesya expressed.