The Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Indonesia (FIB UI) officially opened the Sumba Cultural Symphony event series by holding a seminar entitled “Uma Humba Architecture from a Geospatial and Women’s Space Perspective” on October 6, 2025. This event is also part of the celebration of the 86th anniversary of FIB UI, which this year carries the theme “Weaving Diversity, Caring for Humanity”.
The seminar, held at the FIB UI campus, featured three speakers from various disciplines: Yori Antar (architect and Uma Nusantara activist), Alfita Puspa Handayani (lecturer at the Bandung Institute of Technology), and Diah Kartini Lasman (lecturer in the French Studies Program at FIB UI). They presented diverse perspectives ranging from architecture and geospatial studies to humanities and gender studies.
The Dean of FIB UI, Dr. Bondan Kanumoyoso, S.S., M.Hum., in his speech, emphasized that Uma Humba is not just a building structure, but a symbol of Sumba society’s civilization that is rich in cosmological and social meaning. “In culture, a house is always more than just a place to live. It is a text that can be read, a space that can be interpreted, and a narrative that is continuously updated by each generation,” he said.
Furthermore, this seminar reflected the multidisciplinary spirit that characterizes FIB UI. Perspectives from architecture, geography, anthropology, sociology, and gender studies were brought together to understand Uma Humba in its entirety. “This is the spirit that we uphold at FIB UI: knowledge flourishes precisely when it crosses the boundaries of academic tradition,” he added.
Picture 2. Speaker Yori Antar explained the connection between weaving and the lives of the Sumba people.
The Sumba Cultural Symphony series is designed as a space for collective reflection, looking back to appreciate our heritage while looking forward to building a future that is just, cultured, and sustainable.
This opening event is expected to inspire the younger generation, lecturers, researchers, and the wider community to not only admire the rich culture of the archipelago but also to participate in preserving it, reinterpreting it, and keeping the torch of knowledge burning for the future.
The general public can also attend a series of activities and exhibitions under the theme of Sumba Cultural Symphony on October 6-10, 2025, at the Soe Hok Gie Auditorium – Building IX Sapardi Djoko Damono. Further information about the FIB UI Anniversary series can be obtained from Instagram @diesnatalis.fibui.
Picture 3: Presentation of Sumba Traditional Houses Through a Geospatial Perspective by Dr. Alfita Puspa Handayani
