The Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Community Service Program (KKN-PPM), specifically its Kita Morotai team, successfully staged the 2026 Rao Rayo Festival. Held on Thursday, February 5th, in Posi-Posi Rao Village, Rao Island District, within North Maluku’s Morotai Island Regency, the event marked a significant cultural celebration.
This annual festival, operating under the theme «Celebrating Coastal Cultural Traditions,» provided a vital platform to honor and preserve coastal heritage while reinforcing the unique local identity. The celebration brought together five distinct villages: Posi-Posi Rao, Saminyamau, Leo-Leo, Aru Burung, and Lou Madoro.
Various activities took place around the village harbor, which was transformed into an vibrant open-air cultural stage. The festival itself is a testament to the strong collaborative efforts among KKN students, local government bodies, and the community, all working towards the preservation of their shared traditions.
Dr. Atrida Hadianti, Team Supervisor for Kita Morotai, elaborated that the festival’s origins lie in sustained, multi-period mentoring initiatives centered on culture-driven empowerment. She emphasized her belief that such expressive platforms are crucial for enhancing social cohesion and fostering opportunities within the creative economy.
Through three consecutive KKN periods, students and local residents engaged in intensive dialogue to guarantee the festival’s sustained success. Dr. Hadianti further highlighted the significant historical and philosophical values embedded in coastal culture, underscoring their relevance to regional progress.
“More than just attracting tourists, the Rao Rayo Festival aims to bolster a sense of community and solidarity in safeguarding our culture, embodying the spirit of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity),” Dr. Hadianti stated on Thursday, February 12th.
The Morotai Island Regency Government also extended its commendation, recognizing the festival as an exemplary model of synergy between academic institutions and local communities. Muhammad Umar Ali, the Regional Secretary, pointed out that the festival’s ongoing success is a clear indicator of robust collective dedication.
Umar Ali specifically highlighted that its consistent execution over the past three years signifies the effectiveness of community-led empowerment initiatives. The local government considers this project to be well-aligned with their broader goals of fortifying local identity and advancing sustainable development.
“The fact that this event has been held for the third time underscores a commitment to ongoing community development and empowerment,” he observed.
Support for the festival was also strongly articulated at the district level, with an emphasis on fostering pride among the youth. Sherly Tamadarage, the Head of Rao Island District, asserted that coastal culture represents both a valuable social asset and an economic opportunity that warrants serious management.
Tamadarage noted the enthusiastic participation of young people in the cultural parade and traditional music competition, interpreting this as a positive sign of regeneration among the region’s artists. She believes the festival effectively cultivates a strong sense of belonging to the regional identity.
“Our culture is an ancestral legacy that we are obligated to preserve and transmit to future generations, enabling them to find pride in their heritage,” she declared.
The festival commenced with a vibrant Cultural Parade, showcasing traditional attire and dances from each participating village. The harbor area was beautifully transformed into an expansive performance venue, filled with unique coastal music. A diverse array of dances, such as the Petik Cengkih, Toki Gaba, and Lesung Dances, were performed, each vividly depicting aspects of local community life.
A significant highlight was the Yanger music competition, judged on criteria including musical arrangement, vocal delivery, pronunciation in regional languages, and overall stage presence. The evening concluded with a captivating Cultural Theater performance, dramatically illustrating the rich history and indigenous wisdom of Rao Island.
Beyond the artistic showcases, the festival also hosted Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) exhibitions from every village. Attendees could explore and purchase local culinary delights, intricate handicrafts, and processed seafood products. This initiative provided valuable promotional avenues for local entrepreneurs, simultaneously fostering the expansion of their marketing networks.
The successful execution of the event was further bolstered by support from a range of partners, including private businesses and state-owned enterprises. This cross-sector collaboration is anticipated to ensure the continued growth of the Rao Rayo Festival, establishing it as an inclusive and enduring annual celebration for the residents of Rao Island.