VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The sasando musical instrument is now recognized worldwide as an intellectual property belonging to NTT and Indonesia. Evidence of this recognition is issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) or the World Patent organization.

This explanation was conveyed by the Deputy Governor (Wagub) of NTT Josef Nae Soi in a press conference at the NTT Governor's Office, Friday (16/9/2022). Nae Soi explained, with this recognition, no other country in the world could claim sasando.

“Indeed there are countries that also claim Sasando as their own. However, after we convinced WIPO, they finally recognized this sasando as belonging to NTT," said Nae Soi in a written statement.

"On November 9, I will go to Geneva to collect the certificate issued by WIPO that the Sasando is legally recognized internationally as belonging to NTT and Indonesia. So there is no possibility for another country to claim it as its own because WIPO has recognized this as ours. ," he said again.

Quoting Wikipedia, Sasandu (Rote language) or sasando (Kupang language) is a stringed musical instrument. This tool is played by plucking using the fingers.

Sasando shape is similar to other stringed instruments such as guitar, violin and harp. According to the origin of the word in the Rote language, sasandu, means a tool that vibrates or sounds.

Besides Sasando, the Deputy Governor also appealed to districts and cities in NTT to register woven fabrics and other traditional cultural expressions. They are expected to register it with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) as communal intellectual property.

"Later, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights will register it with WIPO. Because the one that represents Indonesia to the international world from patents, the geographical indication brand is the Ministry of Law and Human Rights," said Nae Soi. (RRI)