Manado Youths Voice Freedom of Expression Through Arts
Not wanting to get their voices further drowned by the hustle and bustle of the city, young people in Manado, North Sulawesi, have stepped out to create a space of expression through literary works.
One of the founders of the Manado Poetry Night, Netty Rahajaan (27) reads poetry on the Comedy and Poetry stage held by the North Pride art community in Manado, June 16, 2022.
Netty Rahajaan (27) stepped out on a stage and began to read a poem. Her tone palpably evoked her burning enthusiasm. It was mid-June 2022. The poem was titled “In Nusa Utara, Bukan Tambang Negara” [in northern archipelago, not the state’s mines]. She co-wrote it with Hendro Septian Lende (32), a stand-up comedian.
”…Yang tersisa hanya sejarah perjuangan yang tak akan pernah mati/ nanti tumbuh jadi api yang membakar banyak nyali/ Ribuan niu akan berkicau dari seluruh Sahendarumang/ Melawan untuk rumah, melawan untuk setiap air, dan melawan untuk akar-akar pohon pala/ Mari pulang, nak, mari melawan/…”