Makassar opened on Friday the International Eight Festival and Forum (F8), a week-long festivity offering various attractions and activities ranging from film, fashion, food, folk, fine art, flora and fauna and fusion.
The opening event, held at Pelataran City of Makassar Anjungan Losari, was attended by over 5,000 invited guests and Makassar locals. The performances on show ranged from air force displays such as skydiving, aerobatic Jupiters and an air show using Sukhoi airplanes, to traditional music performance by 1,700 school students all across Makassar who performed 200 harps, 200 rabat and 200 gendang.
Also performed in the opening event were traditional Makassar dances such as Gandrang Bulo with the dancers wearing traditional costumes.
Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) head Triawan Munaf, who was present in the event, said that hosting such international events gives Indonesia the opportunity to showcase its creative economy appeal. He added that the agency has a vision of making Indonesia one of the world’s economic forces through creative economy by 2030.
“All visions and missions are translated into this event. This is the only event in Indonesia that combines all of Bekraf’s jobs,” he added, as quoted by The Jakarta Post.
This is the second time the festival is being held. Last year’s festivity managed to attract 300,000 people, way above the expected number of 60,000 visitors. The target this year is to welcome one million visitors.