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| (Source:Wikimedia) |
It is since the people of the city are highly talented and have good voices and high musicality due to which music has always articulated their voices in times of social activities and celebrations.
The city government is poised to hold an international A Capella Festival, or "A Capella in the City," on October 26-28, 2017, in order to realize the center of the Maluku provincial administration as a world city of music.
Local Culture and Tourism Office Chief Henry Sopacua has said A Capella in the City is an international festival being held as part of the efforts to realize Ambon as a world city of music.
"The A Capella in the City is an annual tourism agenda in 2017 in the form of a musical art show, called the International A Capella Festival," Sopacua remarked.
According to Sopacua, the unique feature of the musical event this year is that it will be held on a beach to attract local and foreign tourists to visit Ambon.
The Maluku provincial city of Ambon is well-known as the hub of Indonesias most popular singers, and hence, it is called the city of music.
Sopacua noted that so far, three countries, including Germany and the Philippines, have confirmed their participation at the International A Capella Festival in Ambon.
"Several other countries are expected to take part in the festival as the free-of-charge registration is still open until mid-October," the Ambon Culture and Tourism Office chief remarked.
He believes that the International A Capella Festival is a form of the local governments commitment to making Ambon an international city of music in Indonesia.
Since Ambon was declared as the city of music, various efforts have been undertaken to encourage the local musicians to create even better artwork.
Music is a unifying medium and able to break through the barriers of differences, so it holds significance in building true brotherhood and peace in Ambon and Maluku, in general.
Hence, the Indonesian Creative Economy Agency (Be Kraf) is also optimistic of Ambon becoming a world city of music, according to the criteria set by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
"Be Kraf, along with the relevant ministries and agencies, are ready to assist Ambon to become an international city of music," Deputy of Intellectual Property Rights at Be Kraf Ari Juliano Gema had remarked in Ambon some time ago.
The UNESCO has defined seven conditions to be met by Ambon to become a world city of music, including the ability to train human resources, art performance buildings, recording studios, and music schools.
However, Gema noted that Be Kraf, along with the relevant ministries and agencies, is ready to assist Ambon to become an international city of music and is working to meet the conditions set by UNESCO.
He remarked that Be Kraf is developing a road map along with the administration city of Ambon and other institutions to meet all requirements.
Several cities in Indonesia, which have creative economies based on UNESCOs standards, include Bandung, as a city of design, and Pekalongan, as a city of handicrafts.
"Hence, people should also become involved in making every effort to achieve success and to ensure that Ambon becomes a world city of music," he emphasized.
Ambon should join the global community, so that younger generations are able to understand the importance of music to the city.
UNESCOs Creative Cities Network was established in 2004 to promote co-operation between cities that identified creativity as a factor for sustainable urban development.
The network had 116 cities spread across seven creative categories -- crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media, and music.
Ambon should be named as the city of music due to its talented residents; hence the city government has fully supported musical events in the city.
In addition to music, the amicable people and scenic city landscape is bound to make the visitors fall in love with the city.
A must-visit location for visitors staying in Ambon is the World Peace Gong, erected in 2009 in the city center, to remind the people of Maluku and the visitors of the fundamental need for peace and security.
National flags of countries around the world and symbols pertaining to religions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and others, have been printed on the surface of the gong.
The 34th world peace gong was set up in the center of Ambon to serve as a reminder to the world that the area is safe for tourists, and thus, it has been attracting several local and foreign tourists.
The World Peace Gong was set up 2009 in the Maluku provincial city of Ambon instead of Indonesias capital city since peace and security have been restored in the province after three years of sectarian violence.
Hence, all public elements in the city and province have been urged to maintain and preserve the environment that is stable and secure, so that development can occur as planned and expected.(Antara)