The History of the Development of the Indonesian Muslim Arts and Culture Institute (Lesbumi) in Yogyakarta (1962–2016)

Abstract

Background
The Indonesian Muslim Artists and Cultural Figures Association (LESBUMI) was established under the
auspices of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) as a response to the dominance of the Lekra (PKI) political-cultural
movement and the intense polarization of political ideologies in Indonesia during the 1960s. As a cultural
institution rooted in the values of Ahlussunnah wal Jama’ah, LESBUMI has made a significant historical
contribution to safeguarding artistic expression across various regions, particularly in Yogyakarta, which is
known as the center of Javanese culture.
Objectives
This study aims to trace the ebb and flow of LESBUMI’s existence in Yogyakarta from the era of political
confrontation under the Old Order, through the vacuum or “dormant” period during the New Order era, to
the dynamics of its resurgence in the Reform era.
Methods
The method used in this study is the historical method, which consists of four stages: heuristics (data source
collection), source criticism (verification of data validity), interpretation (data analysis using a historical
sociology approach with the continuity and change theory), and historiography (writing history).
Results
The results of the study indicate that LESBUMI Yogyakarta underwent a significant transformation in its
institutional orientation in tandem with shifts in the national political landscape. At its inception, LESBUMI
functioned as a defensive political-ideological instrument against communist influence, whereas postReform until 2016, the organization successfully revitalized itself into a moral-cultural agent actively
preserving local traditions such as wayang performances, contemporary art exhibitions with Sufi themes,
and dialogues on Nusantara culture.
Conclusion
This study concludes that although LESBUMI Yogyakarta experienced a period of dormancy during the New
Order era due to the government regime’s strict control, it managed to sustain its existence by shifting its
strategy from practical political confrontation to a harmonious cultural da’wah movement, while
simultaneously strengthening the connection between traditional Islamic religious values and the
preservation of local culture amidst the tide of modernization.