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The 7th Borobudur Writers and Cultural Festival (BWCF) activity which took place in Yogyakarta on November 22-25 will be the second major literary event I attended after Ubud Writer and Reader Festival in Bali in 2012. The BWCF event is more complete because it includes various cultural and literary activities such as book fairs, book launches, discussions, film screenings, art shows, creative fairy tales workshops, and so on.

Looking at the list of activities and participants who were present based on information from the committee, I immediately imagined that I would take part in activities full of inspiration and enthusiasm for four days. This is not only an arena to strengthen the network of literacy and culture, but also to sharpen creativity and maintain the momentum of writing enthusiasm at the top level. For me and a number of participants, BWCF was also a reunion event because a number of 2012 UWRF participants were also present, including poet Ratna Ayu Budhiarti.

The nuances of Aceh will also be seen in the 7th BWCF because of the presence of the author Azhari who just got the 2018 Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa Award. The thick novel Kura-Kura Berjanggut has received tremendous appreciation from literary observers in Indonesia. The opening with the rapai geleng dance which is also native to Aceh adds to the increasingly thick atmosphere of Aceh

Many great figures who were present there, such as Prof. Peter Carey, whose book Kuala Ramalan about the struggle of Prince Diponegoro, have not yet been finished. Apparently, I have to bring the book to the author's signature.

In addition, there are also Prof. Dr. Mudji Sutrisno SJ, Prof. Dr. Azyumardi Azra, Prof. Toeti Herati, Prof. Dr. Taufik Abdullah, Salim Lee, and Prof. Dr. Henry Cambert Loir. A number of other names that will fill the symposium are Dr. Iskandar P Nugraha, Prof. Dr. Djoko Marihandono, and Prof. Dr. Sangkot Marzuki. A number of authors also shared experiences of recession such as Martin Aleida, Faisal Oddang, Agustinus Wibowo, and so on. I have often read these writers in both books and in various media. It's lucky I was in an event full of enthusiasm like BWCF 2018.[]

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The 7th Borobudur Writers and Cultural Festival: Festival Kreatif dan Inspiratif

Kegiatan The 7th Borobudur Writers and Cultural Festival (BWCF) yang berlangsung di Yogyakarta pada 22 – 25 November mendatang, menjadi even sastra besar kedua yang saya ikuti setelah Ubud Writer and Reader Festival di Bali pada 2012 silam. Even BWCF menjadi lebih lengkap karena meliputi berbagai kegiatan budaya dan sastra seperti pameran buku, peluncuran buku, diskusi, pemutaran film, pertunjukan seni, workshop dongeng kreatif, dan sebagainya.

Melihat daftar kegiatan dan peserta yang hadir berdasarkan informasi dari panitia, saya langsung membayangkan akan mengikuti kegiatan penuh inspirasi dan semangat selama empat hari. Ini bukan saja menjadi ajang untuk memperkuat jaringan literasi dan budaya, tetapi juga untuk mempertajam kreativitas dan menjaga momentum semangat menulis tetap berada di level atas. Bagi saya dan sejumlah peserta, BWCF juga menjadi ajang reuni karena sejumlah peserta UWRF 2012 juga hadir, antara lain penyair Ratna Ayu Budhiarti.

Nuansa Aceh juga akan terlihat dalam BWCF ke-7 karena hadirnya penulis Azhari yang baru saja mendapatkan Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa Award 2018. Novel tebalnya Kura-Kura Berjanggut mendapat apresiasi luar biasa dari pengamat sastra di Indonesia. Pembukaan dengan tarian rapai geleng yang juga asli Aceh menambah suasana keacehan yang semakin kental.

Banyak tokoh hebat yang hadir di sana seperti Prof Peter Carey yang bukunya Kuasa Ramalan tentang perjuangan Pangeran Diponegoro masih belum selesai saya baca sampai sekarang. Sepertinya, saya harus membawa buku itu untuk ditandatangani penulisnya.

Selain itu, juga ada Prof Dr Mudji Sutrisno SJ, Prof Dr Azyumardi Azra, Prof Toeti Herati, Prof Dr Taufik Abdullah, Salim Lee, dan Prof Dr Henry Cambert Loir. Sejumlah nama lain yang akan mengisi simposium adalah Dr Iskandar P Nugraha, Prof Dr Djoko Marihandono, dan Prof Dr Sangkot Marzuki. Sejumlah penulis juga hadir membagi pengalaman resindesi seperti Martin Aleida, Faisal Oddang, Agustinus Wibowo, dan sebagainya. Para penulis itu sudah sering saya baca karyanya baik dalam buku maupun di berbagai media. Sungguh beruntung saya berada dalam sebuah even yang penuh gelora kreativitas seperti BWCF 2018.[]

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