A total of 8 international students from Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) performed at the USU Theater O Appreciation Stage on Friday (8/3).
The head of BIPA UMSU Institute, Dr. Cut Novita Srikandi, who served as an assistant, said that this activity was one of BIPA UMSU’s efforts to introduce literature and the arts to foreign students.
“BIPA UMSU not only teaches Indonesian to them but also introduces Indonesian literature, especially the works of local North Sumatra authors,” said Cut.
She also introduced Indonesian literature so that international students could learn about the richness of Indonesian culture, “This is also one of the cultural promotions directly to the outside world through foreign students,” added Cut Novita Srikandi who was accompanied by BIPA UMSU Advisor Dr. Muhamad Arifin, BIPA UMSU Members Dr. T Winona Emelia and Yulhasni.
International students who are members of UMSU’s Indonesian Language Speakers (BIPA) performed by reading a poem by Sitor Situmorang, Topography of Lake Toba.
Their performance was appreciated for amazeing the audience. “Their Indonesian is almost perfect, although there is some vocabulary in the poem that does need to be understood in depth,” said Yosefin, Acting Chairperson of USU O Theater.
Then, Nadia (Thailand), Dani (Cambodia), and Ahmad (Yemen) performed alternately reading three stanzas of Sitor Situmorang’s poetry. She was accompanied by background music entitled ‘Mardalan Marsada-sada’ created by Batak music maestro Tilham Gultom. The action of the three also received appreciation and praise.
Meanwhile, Nadia, a student from Thailand, was very enthusiastic when allowed to recite poetry. Although she had to work hard to understand Sitor Situmorang’s poems, which are full of Batak ethnicity, she said she was proud to be able to perform in front of USU students. “Hopefully, there will be more poetry readings like this,” she hoped.