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Rote Malole Festival 2025 highlights Rote Ndao's diversity
WINDONESIA September 11, 2025
Three middle school students performing the Teo Renda song with sasando, Rote Island's traditional string instrument, during Rote Malole Festival 2025. (Rote Ndao Regency Government)
Rote Ndao Regency hosted the 2025 Rote Malole Festival on Aug. 13–14, 2025 at the Christian Nehemia Dillak Stadium. The festival had "Tourism Progress for a Prosperous and Sovereign Rote Ndao" as its theme.
Rote Ndao Regency Culture and Tourism Office Promotion and Marketing Head Bambang Haryo Basuseno stated the festival is a commitment to preserving cultural heritage arts.
"We must maintain the authenticity of our ancestral traditions amid modernization," he said.
The festival featured kebalai competitions, traditional dances, sasando picking, poetry, and outfits based on the traditional tenun woven fabric of. The competitions honored the region's traditions and identity.
In addition, visitors was presented with traditional musical entertainment, art performances, free health checks, and the largest micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) exhibition in Rote Ndao.
"MSMEs are important partners in this festival," said Bambang.
Rote Malole Festival 2025 was attended by 80 arts and cultural competition participants and 75 MSMEs. The festival's culinary exhibition and MSMEs, which involved 30 different ethnic groups, showcased Rote Ndao Regency's cultural diversity.
Bambang confirmed that the Rote Malole Festival is included in the Tourism Ministry's Karisma Event Nusantara 2025 calendar of cultural festivals. The event was expected to boost tourism and strengthen Rote Ndao Regency's cultural identity.
