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Multicultural Press Australia | Special Cultural Feature
Saturday, 10 October 2026 | Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia
Poetry, cultural memory and international friendship came together on Saturday, 10 October 2026, at the Mini Theater, Youth Center, Padang, during “Rantau and Rhythm: When Poetry Becomes a Home.” Organised by DPD SatuPena Sumatera Barat, the bilingual gathering explored rantau, the experience of leaving home to seek knowledge and opportunity while maintaining a deep connection to one’s roots.
The event brought together poets, writers, cultural advocates and local representatives for a morning of literary exchange. Its highlight was a special session featuring Mai White (Võ Thị Như Mai) , a Vietnamese Australian poet, translator, educator and editor, and founder of Multicultural Press Australia and The Rhythm of Vietnam.
The programme opened with a report by organising committee representative Mrs. Basnurida, followed by a welcome from Dra. Hj. Sastri Yunizarti Bakry, Akt., M.Si., CA., QIA, Chair of SatuPena West Sumatra. A representative of the Padang local government also delivered congratulations on behalf of the Mayor, who was unable to attend personally.
Two publications were launched during the gathering: Seven Summits West Sumatra, by Two Efly and Azib Fattah Mandala Putra, celebrating the region’s mountain landscapes, and Smart Book, Augmented Reality, by Rifky S. Jamal and colleagues, exploring innovative possibilities in interactive learning and publishing.
Under the theme “Poetry Reading, Diaspora Stories and the Concept of Rantau,” Mai White reflected on living between Vietnam and Australia. She described how migration can broaden one’s perspective without erasing cultural identity. Vietnam remains the source of her language, memories and heritage, while Australia has provided a multicultural environment in which she continues to build connections through literature and education.
For Mai, poetry offers a home that people can carry across borders. Through remembered words, family stories and shared emotions, people living abroad can remain connected to their origins while embracing new cultures. She emphasised that preserving one’s mother tongue and traditions should go hand in hand with openness, curiosity and respect for others.
Her reflections resonated with the Minangkabau concept of merantau, in which leaving one’s homeland becomes an opportunity for growth, independence and learning. Both experiences reveal that belonging does not have to be limited to one place. Instead, encounters with different cultures can deepen our understanding of ourselves and others.
The session continued with a poetry dialogue featuring seven West Sumatran poets: Yeni Ibrahim, with “Rantau”; Fauzul El Nurca; Murziyenny, with “Jembatan Dua Benua” (Bridge Between Two Continents); Nurhayani, with “Ikatan Tanpa Sekat” (Bonds Without Barriers); Marniyeti, with “Perempuan adalah Rumah” (Woman Is Home); Uncu Munur; and Rezkya Amelia, with “Himalaya kepada Asap” (Himalaya to Smoke). Their contributions offered diverse perspectives on home, identity, memory and connections that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries.
An important moment was the presentation of a copy of Multicultural Press Australia to the Mayor of Padang, as scheduled in Mai’s session. The gesture symbolised her commitment to connecting writers and literary communities across Australia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Through multicultural publishing, she hopes to provide opportunities for diverse voices to reach international audiences and encourage further collaboration among poets, translators and cultural organisations.
The gathering also highlighted the role of literature and multicultural media in inspiring younger generations to value their heritage while welcoming the wider world. Mai believes that understanding one’s own culture creates a stronger foundation for appreciating the traditions of others.
The programme concluded with certificates, acknowledgements and a group photograph, bringing together the morning’s discussions, readings and cultural exchanges under a shared message: “Puisi Menyatukan Kita — Poetry Brings Us Together.”
Organised by DPD SatuPena Sumatera Barat, the event demonstrated how local literary traditions and international perspectives can enrich one another. The contributions of the participating poets, the book launches and Mai White’s reflections created opportunities for future friendships and literary cooperation.
For Mai, the deeper meaning of rantau lies in discovering new worlds without forgetting where one’s story began. A poem can cross a border, a translation can open a door, and a magazine can introduce one community to another.
From Vietnam to Australia and Indonesia, the gathering in Padang affirmed that poetry can build bridges between cultures, generations and hearts.
Poetry brings us together. Friendship gives those connections a future.
About Mai White
Mai White is the pen name of Võ Thị Như Mai, a Vietnamese Australian poet, translator, educator and editor. She is the founder and editor of The Rhythm of Vietnam and works through Multicultural Press Australia to promote literature, translation and cultural exchange across languages and borders.
Event organiser: DPD SatuPena Sumatera Barat
Venue: Mini Theater, Youth Center, Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia
Date: 10 October 2026
Theme:Rantau and Rhythm: When Poetry Becomes a Home
