Something was different at the Cultural Congress this year 2012 which took place in the Using . Tourism Village (TWO), Kemiren Village, Glagah District, yesterday. The implementation of this congress was attended by honorary participants. She is a student from Australia named Healey.
HEALEY has known Banyuwangi's cultural diversity for a long time through several books about Banyuwangi. One of the books he read is The Variety of Javanese Religion by Andrew Beatty. In that book, Andrew wrote the results of his research on the cultural life of the Using . community.
It was this book that brought Healey to know a lot about the various cultures of Banyuwangi. Apart from books, Healey also got a lot of information about Banyuwangi culture from a lecturer in cultural anthropology at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM), Dr. Achmad Habib MA. Habib is the son of Banyuwangi who has extensive knowledge of the cultural history of his homeland.
While in Banyuwangi, Healey actively participated in a series of cultural congresses held at the Using . Tourism Village (TWO), Kemiren Village, Glagah District. He admitted that he was interested in digging deeper into the culture of Banyuwangi. Why is Healey impressed with the culture of Banyuwangi?
There are several things that attract the mixed Australian and Italian student, that is mystical culture, diversity, and cultural acculturation The three things that attracted Healey to come and join the Banayuwangi Cultural Congress. He judges, Banyuwangi's cultural diversity is interesting to explore further.
He came all the way from Australia to Banyuwangi just to learn about the potential and richness of Banyuwangi culture. Healey's arrival in Banyuwangi is the first. “He wants to know more about the culture of the Banyuwangi people,"said Aekanu Hariyono, Head of Customs and Culture, Department of culture and tourism.
Head of Culture and Tourism Office, Suprayogi said, Healey's arrival at the Second Cultural Congress was not invited by the committee. He came on his own initiative because he was interested in the culture of the Banyuwangi people.
Even if you weren't invited, but he got a special welcome and became an honorary participant in the 2nd Cultural Congress. Actually there are some foreigners who are interested in joining the cultural congress. They can't come because the schedule of the cultural congress is not the same as their vacation agenda.
They usually want to know in detail the culture and customs of the people of Banyuwangi. “Hopefully next year they can come to Banyuwangi to join the cultural congress,"Please Suprayogi. (radar)
