Madya Highlights the Fate of Acehnese Oral Traditions: Surviving Thanks to the People, Not the Government

BANDA ACEH – Acehnese cultural figure Madya thinks the survival of traditional Acehnese oral arts like Dikie Aceh leans more on people's love than on government support. Although some universities and cultural institutions have started to pay attention, he reckons it's still not enough to ensure the tradition keeps going. 'Dikie Aceh isn't just literature; it's a performance art that blends storytelling, role-playing, and bringing dialogue to life,' Madya said in Banda Aceh on Wednesday (3/6/2026). He pointed to the late Tengku Adnan PMTOH, a maestro of oral arts who was dubbed the 'Troubadour of Aceh' when he performed in Barcelona, Spain. Madya finds it a shame that the government does so little to develop this traditional art. 'It's actually the people who've been keeping Dikie Aceh alive up to now,' he said. Proof of that is these performances still often pop up at traditional ceremonies and wedding parties in villages. He hopes the Aceh government will get more serious about paying attention so that oral arts and other traditional art forms don't vanish under the tide of modern culture. https://www.harianaceh.co.id/2026/06/03/madya-hus-soroti-nasip-hikayat-aceh-bertahan-karena-masyarakat-bukan-pemerintah/