Antara News·Indonesia·Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 09:50 AM UTC

Indonesia prepares Sheikh Yusuf Al Makassari exhibition in Amsterdam

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Abdu Faisal, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Culture is preparing an exhibition titled "Sacred Journey of Sheikh Yusuf Al Makassari: Legacy of Knowledge, Freedom, and Humanity" at the Indonesia House in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

According to a statement on Saturday, the exhibition features a scientific seminar and film screening, with the aim to introduce Sheikh Yusuf's history, struggles, and contributions to a wider audience.

At the opening of "There Was Something Here Before," exhibition at Erasmus Huis, Jakarta, on Friday (October 2), Minister of Culture Fadli Zon said that Sheikh Yusuf Al Makassari was a key figure in the history of relations between Indonesia and South Africa.

After supporting Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa against the Dutch trading alliance, the VOC, in Banten, Sheikh Yusuf was arrested in 1683 and exiled to Sri Lanka in 1684.

In 1693, the Dutch colonial government moved Sheikh Yusuf to the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.

"Sheikh Yusuf's exile was intended to separate him from the community and networks that had supported his struggle. However, his ideas and influence were never interrupted," Zon emphasized.

While in Cape Town, he continued teaching and became a spiritual and community leader. His legacy lives on through his sacred tomb and the community that has developed around his history and memory.

Through the exhibition, the ministry aims to tell the history of Sheikh Yusuf Al Makassari's struggle to a wider audience in order to build a sustainable cultural dialogue.

Efforts to foster cultural dialogue will include the establishment of an Indonesian cultural house and museum in Cape Town and an exhibition at Indonesia House Amsterdam.

"We also hope that the presence of an Indonesian cultural house and museum in Cape Town can serve as a cultural bridge that strengthens the relationship between Indonesia and South Africa in a sustainable manner," Zon remarked.

The "There Was Something Here Before" exhibition, running from October 3 to December 23, 2026, at Erasmus Huis, Jakarta, showcases the contributions of Indonesians in shaping life and culture in Cape Town, South Africa.

"This work brings together Indonesia, the Netherlands, and South Africa within a framework of interconnected history and culture. I applaud Zahira Asmal for inviting us to look deeper into the various layers of memory, community, and history that shape a city," Zon stated.

Curator and exhibition creator, Zahira Asmal, explained that the exhibition was initiated from an effort to understand who built, maintained, and shaped the city.

She highlighted the contributions of people from parts of Indonesia such as Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi, who brought knowledge, beliefs, languages, foods, skills, and traditions that shaped the lives of the people of Cape Town.

"Many of them came from Indonesia and continue to shape life in Cape Town today. I hope this exhibition encourages us to recognize and appreciate their contributions and history," she noted.

The interactive multimedia exhibition "There Was Something Here Before" combines research, archival materials, photography, sound, art, personal testimonies, and interactive design.

Using various media, the exhibition highlights how cities are constantly shaped by human movement, hard work, struggle, care, and restoration.

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