Bandung, WPs. - Prof. Dr. Retty Isnendes, S.Pd., M.Pd. delivered a speech at the 109th Rumawat Padjadjaran performance titled “Wanoja Sadayana: Gelar Geunjleung Puspa Karima”, held at Graha Sanusi Hardjadinata, Universitas Padjadjaran, on Friday (23/1/2026). In her address, she highlighted the importance of Sundanese women’s roles in safeguarding, developing, and passing on art and culture to the next generation amid changing times.
“If women are valued, art will live. If art lives, culture will not fall silent. Sunda is my identity, Sundanese blood is my soul,” Prof. Retty Isnendes said in her speech. The quote reaffirmed that women are not merely participants in the arts, but also guardians of values, drivers of creativity, and heirs of culture who transmit tradition from one generation to the next.
In her presentation, she explained that Sundanese women have long held strategic positions across cultural spheres, from performing arts stages and education to leadership roles within cultural communities. Their presence not only enriches artistic expression, but also sustains local wisdom values that form the identity of Sundanese society.
The speech also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 and SDG 5. Through arts and cultural education, Sundanese women serve as creators, educators, leaders, and community mobilizers who build intergenerational learning spaces.
However, Prof. Retty Isnendes also noted that women’s contributions in the history of Sundanese arts are often insufficiently documented. Many works, ideas, and dedications live on in everyday cultural practices, yet have not been fully recorded in cultural historical narratives. Therefore, she encouraged more serious efforts to document and appreciate women’s contributions in the arts.
Amid globalization and digitalization, Sundanese women are seen as increasingly adaptive in using technology as a means of cultural preservation. Through digital media, various forms of traditional art - from music and dance to literature - are being reintroduced to younger generations through approaches that are more relevant to contemporary developments.
In closing, Prof. Retty Isnendes reaffirmed that the future of Sundanese art and culture cannot be separated from women’s roles. As long as women are valued and given space to create, art will continue to grow, culture will remain alive, and Sundanese identity will be preserved amid changing times. (Haidar Ali Dzulfikar and Dian Hendrayana)