Merdeka | Food & Mini Pasar

Nuansa Seni

19:50 – 20:05 uur

Nuansa Seni is a collective that reinterprets Indonesian dance for contemporary audiences. Drawing from Javanese and Sumatran traditions, their performances are rooted in heritage while speaking to diasporic contexts. They create colorful and energetic choreographies that celebrate movement as a living cultural language. Tradition is not repeated but transformed, allowing new expressions of old forms. Their work highlights the richness of Indonesian dance culture in today’s world.

Bintang Manira Manik (Manirastar)

20:40 – 21:00 uur

Bintang Manira Manik, also known as Manirastar, is a multifaceted musician from Bandung, Indonesia, based between the Netherlands and Austria. A trained percussionist with a passion for electronic music, he combines improvisation with traditional sounds. His live sets blend Sundanese rhythms, tabla, and Dhrupad singing with electronic textures. This creates immersive soundscapes where heritage and experimentation meet. His music offers a cross-cultural journey, bridging tradition and modernity.

KUNTARI

21:50 – 22:10 uur

Named their genre Primal-core, KUNTARI experiment with trumpet, Indonesian tribal rhythms, and dark ambients to create raw, percussive soundscapes. Their live shows are intense, organic, and untamed, with a feral energy that merges ancient beats with contemporary noise. They have toured extensively in Asia and Europe, performing at major festivals such as CTM (Berlin), Keroxen (Spain), and ICA (London). Their 2021 album was named Best Album of the Year by Jakarta Post and ranked 2nd Best by Vice in 2022. Praised as “blisteringly inventive” (The Guardian) and “a stunner” (The Wknd), KUNTARI stand out as one of Indonesia’s most acclaimed experimental acts.

Warung Pas

During the pandemic, Chef Petra Moerbeek turned to cooking as a way to stay connected in a time of isolation. What began as @indo_ricebowl (a side project to share comforting Indonesian flavors) eventually grew into a  community of Indo food lovers.

As demand grew, so did the dream of creating a real gathering place. The opportunity came when we launched a pop-up restaurant at Noordwal 1, inside Sexyland World. There, we built something special: a place where people could come together over authentic Indonesian food, make connections in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. After an unforgettable pop-up, it became clear; this was only the beginning. 

Barbara Jans Ceramics

Amsterdam-based ceramist Barbara Jans draws inspiration from her Indonesian roots, weaving traditional motifs into her contemporary designs. Working entirely by hand, she creates unique ceramic pieces that balance contrast and harmony, each carrying the imprint of both craftsmanship and heritage.

Soundwriters (Jiwa Jiwa Project)

Soundwriters is a project initiated by Sekan as part of Jiwa Jiwa, focusing on the musical heritage of the Indonesian and Indo-European diaspora. It serves as an aural history, documenting the work of ancestors from Indo-European, Moluccan, Papua, Javanese-Surinamese, and Peranakan backgrounds. The project highlights overlooked pioneers, honoring their contributions through music, text, and archival research. Designed as both book and catalog, Soundwriters gives voice to cultural histories often left undocumented. It is an act of homage, recognition, and preservation for future generations.

NOMORE Gallery

At this Felix Meritis event, NOMORE Gallery presents a selection of contemporary artworks created by local resident artists from their space in the historic Kraton district of Yogyakarta. The works on display are also available for purchase, with 40% of the proceeds donated to support people in need living on the streets of Yogyakarta. Known for hosting rotating exhibitions such as Interlude by Masgaga, the gallery focuses on emerging voices and community-rooted expression. Through this presentation, NOMORE brings its distinctive blend of creativity and social mission to Amsterdam.

Boekhandel de Duif – boekentafel vol met titels rondom 80 jaar (on)afhankelijkheid van Indonesië 

Dit najaar opent Boekhandel de Duif haar deuren in Amsterdam-Noord. Koloniale geschiedenis en post-koloniale denkers gaan zeker een eigen schap krijgen. Naast boekenkun je er straks ook terecht voor koffie, thee en allerlei activiteiten zoals boekenclubs en programma’s met schrijvers.

Boekhandel de Duif kan niet wachten! Daarom zijn we nog vóór de opening te vinden bij Merdeka. We nemen een speciaal gecureerd assortiment mee: hedendaagse Indonesische schrijvers vertaald naar het Engels maar ook poëzie, kookboeken, literatuur en non-fictie rondom het thema van het festival.