CCN, Cilegon – The Cilegon City Library and Archives Office (DPK) successfully held a Storytelling Competition on May 14-15, 2024. This competition sought to discover young talents in the art of storytelling, showcasing a strong sense of local culture.
Participants from various educational levels, including elementary schools and the general public, took part in the event. They passionately and enthusiastically presented folk tales and legends from the Cilegon region, bringing to life the invaluable local cultural heritage.
In his opening remarks, the Head of DPK Cilegon, Ismatullah, expressed his appreciation for the enthusiasm of the participants and the audience. He emphasized the importance of literacy as part of the nation’s wealth.
“This Storytelling Competition is not just about the competition itself, but also about our efforts to preserve the storytelling tradition and to increase public interest in reading,” said Ismatullah.
To enrich the evaluation process and incorporate local nuances, DPK Cilegon involved competent judges with a deep understanding of Cilegon’s cultural heritage. These judges included experts in literature, culture, and folklore.
“We want the participants to be evaluated not only on their storytelling techniques but also on how they bring the stories to life with the local wisdom of Cilegon,” explained Ismatullah.
The effort by DPK Cilegon to incorporate local nuances into the Storytelling Competition was well received by various parties, including one of the judges, Ihan Imtihan from Kampung Dongeng Cilegon. Imtihan believes that this competition can be a gateway to reviving the culture of literacy in the community.
“When someone tells a story, they must have read it. But it doesn’t stop at just reading,” said Imtihan.
He added that the storytelling competition also encourages participants to solve problems that may be found within the stories. Imtihan hopes that this competition can foster a love of reading and literacy not only among children but also among parents.
The DPK Cilegon Storytelling Competition is expected to be a means to preserve the storytelling tradition, increase reading interest, and enrich the local cultural heritage of Cilegon.
Storytelling Competition Winners:
1. General Category:
* 1st Place: Tiyas Dewi Trisnawati (DWP Kota Cilegon)
* 2nd Place: Jubaedah (TBM Al-Insyiroh)
* 3rd Place: Nurhayati (GOW)
2. Elementary/MI Category:
* 1st Place: Al-Queenza Kirana Radisty (SD Al-Azhar 40 Cilegon)
* 2nd Place: Afika Az-Zahra (SD Negeri Ciwandan)
* 3rd Place: Muhammad Aghist Qolby (SDIT Raidhatul Jannah)
The assessment criteria for the competition focused on several key aspects: Mastery of Material, Storytelling Technique, Performance, Creativity, and Time Management.
The DPK Cilegon Storytelling Competition has successfully provided a platform for culture and literacy enthusiasts to gather, showcase their talents, and learn from one another. It is hoped that this event can continue and grow in the future, benefiting the community and preserving local culture. (Ahdi)
