A Tribute to Fidelis Mali Bere
By Yanuarius Wadan, S.Pd.
English Teacher, SMP Negeri Tasifeto Timur, Belu – Indonesia
At the eastern edge of a peaceful archipelago,
there echoes a melody that time itself cannot silence.
It rises not from dazzling stages nor fleeting applause,
but from a humble bamboo flute,
lifted with patient hands and an unassuming heart.
From quiet villages to windswept valleys,
he has woven the soul of a people into bamboo.
A craftsman of melodies,
a sculptor of breathing reeds,
guiding youthful fingers and steady breaths
until the voices of their ancestors live again.
His name is Fidelis Mali Bere,
a faithful guardian of culture,
whose devotion has graced the grand stages of Fulan Fehan I to IV.
Though clothed in the duties of public service,
his spirit has never ceased its journey—
crossing schools, villages, and community halls,
awakening hope wherever tradition begins to fade.
With quiet brilliance and boundless imagination,
he has travelled across the land of Belu,
igniting forgotten dreams with every note of Kfui.
His smile remains gentle through every challenge,
for true greatness speaks softly,
and genuine service seeks no applause.
He stands like the mighty bamboo,
firm against the storm,
yet forever bowing humbly to the earth.
Such is the nature of those who truly serve:
they do not chase recognition,
they simply refuse to let the voices of their ancestors disappear.
Today, the harvest of that unwavering devotion is visible.
Kfui, the sacred bamboo flute of Belu,
has earned its rightful place
as an officially recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage of Indonesia.
This honor belongs not to one person alone,
but to an entire community—
teachers, students, parents, artists, and schools—
standing together as one heartbeat.
Their unity is like a bundle of reeds,
fragile when alone,
yet unbreakable when bound together.
Women and men, daughters and sons,
share one enduring promise:
to let the song of Kfui echo forever,
beyond mountains, beyond generations.
O lovers of art,
O guardians of humanity,
look upon those who preserve tradition with sincere hearts.
See the hands that nurture heritage,
hear the breath that gives life to bamboo,
for those who protect culture
are the ones who preserve the soul of a nation.
Tabe hadinan, dear Na’i Fidelis Mali Bere.
You are far more than a teacher,
far more than a public servant.
You are a keeper of identity,
a guardian of memory,
and a bridge between yesterday and tomorrow.
Through your life,
you have taught us the noblest truth:
that greatness is never measured
by how high one stands above others,
but by how deeply one bows
in humble service to humanity.
May the gentle voice of Kfui continue to carry the spirit of Belu across the world, reminding every generation that culture survives because someone chooses to love it enough to protect it.
