Saman Di Busan, Korea.

The man was Fikar W. Eda, an Acehnese poet who performed poetry for four consecutive days at one of South Korea's most prestigious international dance festivals. Also read: Saman Shakes Busan: When Gayo Heritage Becomes a Global Language The poem, titled "A Thousand Samans," kicked off the Indonesian delegation's Acehnese performances at BIDF 2026, held from June 5–9 in Busan. It was an unusual artistic choice for an international contemporary dance festival. When a short video about the Saman Dance finished playing, Fikar emerged from the side of the stage. He moved like an eagle spreading its wings. The Upuh Ulen-Ulen cloth he waved added to the drama. Occasionally, the sound of the canang (traditional bamboo cymbals) he played himself could be heard, creating a magical atmosphere that captivated the audience. At the same time, a group of young men dressed in Saman costumes entered the arena. They formed a circle and clapped their hands, waiting for the signal that would lead the audience into the Gayo world. Also read: Village-Owned Enterprises in 49 Villages in Indrajaya Obtain AHU Certificates, Here's the Registration Process Then the atmosphere fell silent. The cymbals were heard once again. Fikar began reciting poetry. The poet's voice floated through the performance space, telling the story of Saman, born in the Gayo mountains and transformed into a world heritage site. His words were not merely an opening to the performance, but a bridge connecting the international audience to the spirit of the culture they were about to witness. As the poem reached its conclusion, a spotlight fell on his body. He loudly shouted: "I send Saman to you!" These words concluded the poetry reading and signaled the beginning of the Saman Dance. Fikar then slowly left the stage. The dancers took over the performance space. The opening greeting echoed, followed by rhythmic movements that were unified, fast, and captivating. The Busan audience was captivated by the charm of one of Aceh's most famous cultural heritages. This article has been published on SerambiNews.com with the title Poet Fikar W. Eda Brings Poetry and Canang to the Busan World Stage, https://aceh.tribunnews.com/internasi....