Indonesian Festival returns in Somersworth 'welcoming us with a warm embrace'

Megan Fernandes, Fosters Daily Democrat
·3 min read

SOMERSWORTH — The ninth annual Indonesian Festival returned this weekend, after a two-year coronavirus pandemic hiatus, bringing a celebration to the city and much praise from Indonesian dignitary guests.

Onlookers watched in awe as more than 50 performers from the province of Papua in Indonesia told stories through traditional dances and songs to the beat of drums in front of the Somersworth Plaza. Performers included the award-winning Iyakoko Patea Choir and the Freedom Squad Dancers, who traveled from Indonesia to perform. The performers spent eight days touring and performing  in Washington D.C., New York, New Jersey, and New Hampshire before kicking off the Indonesian Festival with multiple acts of song and dance.

The festival attracted thousands of people from the local area, around New England and abroad, according to local Indonesian Community Connect President Raude Raychel. The festival highlighted Indonesia's Papua province by featuring traditional cultural performances, cuisine and handmade products from the area.

“It wasn't easy to make it bigger, better and bolder, but we all did it,” Raychel said. “We look forward to the great 10th anniversary of the festival next year.”

Indonesian visitors in Somersworth pleased

Jacob Jantje Toisuta, the head of the department of youth, sports and tourism from the Mimika regency in Papua, thanked the community for embracing Indonesian culture.

“I’m very happy and very proud to be here today, to see that the community loves and appreciates our culture,” Jantje Toisuta said. “The city and the people of New Hampshire are very kind, always smiling, always welcoming us with a warm embrace.”

Jantje Toisuta said that the festival showcases how the many different Indonesian cultures enrich one another.

Traditional, authentic Indonesian street food was a hit at the Indonesian Festival in Somersworth Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.
Traditional, authentic Indonesian street food was a hit at the Indonesian Festival in Somersworth Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.

“When you see the performances from Iyakoko Patea Choir and the Freedom Squad Dancers, you can see the differences in culture and also the richness in culture of Indonesia. That richness of culture unites us as a nation,” Jantje Toisuta said.

Visitors waited in line to try traditional, authentic Indonesian street food that highlighted flavors from throughout Indonesia.

Government officials from Mimika regency, Papua, Indonesia were in attendance. Local officials like Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard, Dover Mayor Bob Carrier, Congressman Chris Pappas, state Sen. David Watters and Strafford County Sheriff Mark Brave were present, too.

A performance by the Freedom Squad Dancers, who visited from Papua, Indonesia, at the Indonesian Festival in Somersworth Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.
A performance by the Freedom Squad Dancers, who visited from Papua, Indonesia, at the Indonesian Festival in Somersworth Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.

Hilliard spoke about the richness of Indonesian culture in how it adds to the fabric of the Hilltop City. Carrier spoke to how Dover has become a welcoming "melting pot" that truly welcomes the Indonesian community.

Herbhayu Noerlambang, consul for information and socio-cultural affairs at the Indonesian Consulate in New York visited Somersworth for the first time, saying it was worth the trip. He shared that one of the programs the consulate of New York is working on will help United States communities like the Seacoast in New Hampshire establish more interest in Indonesian restaurants, increasing trade.

“I’m pleased that you are gathered here. I hope you all enjoy the food, the music and the culture of Indonesia,” Noerlambang said.

Raychel said that the festival was brought to life thanks to the work of the festival committee team, and New Frontiers Church for its more than 40 members that volunteered at the event.

Little Indonesia project in mind

Many vendors offered unique Indonesian art, clothing and accessories at the Indonesian Festival in Somersworth Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.
Many vendors offered unique Indonesian art, clothing and accessories at the Indonesian Festival in Somersworth Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.

This has been a milestone year for the Indonesian Community Connect, which celebrated two anniversaries with a Food Fest and special ceremony earlier this year.

More: Indonesian Community Connect celebrates milestones, pitches future plans in Somersworth

The event Saturday helped kick off the organization's capital campaign to fundraise for the next phase of what has been hailed as the world’s first Little Indonesia – a planned commercial-cultural district in the Hilltop City. The vision is features a large welcome gate, community center, an Indonesian museum, housing, community cultural garden, a food hall and shopping center. A cultural center opened in 2021, the first phase of the project.

Editor's note: Some interviews in this story were translated from Indonesian to English with help from festival officials. 

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Indonesian Festival returns in Somersworth NH with joy in 2022