The Sumba Integrated Development (SID) is a local non-government organisation based in East Sumba, established in 2010. The vision of SID is to develop and empower the community by strengthening their values in life and improving the welfare of the people, families, women and children. SID primarily focuses on developing a good environment for children and youth in cooperation with related stakeholders in Sumba island, in particular community leaders, local government and other civil society organisations.

The effects of globalisation have challenged the vitality of cultural practices of the indigenous Marapu minority group in East Sumba, Indonesia. Modernisation and technological innovation have undoubtedly improved health, education and living standards, however, inter-generational transmission of traditional music and culture has drastically declined in vitality. The canon of many traditional marapu music genres is now only known by the elderly members of communities and is not being passed on to younger generations, putting the culture in a critical position. This decline is in part due to the various socio-economic and political factors associated with modernisation, cultural power originating from the Javanese dominant urban centres and the marginalising effects it has had on the Marapu people.

The Revitalising traditional Marapu cultural assets project empowers and supports Marapu communities in East Sumba to revitalise, document, archive, disseminate and celebrate their own traditional musical heritage. Practical and culturally appropriate measures are taken in close collaboration with local traditional music leaders and youth communities to produce workshops, performances, and other creative outputs; build and distribute traditional instruments; and facilitate the inter-generational transmission of endangered Marapu music genres and songs. The project also addresses the under-representation of women in traditional music in Sumba thus prioritising the participation and empowerment of young Marapu women. The project also stimulates the Marapu community pride, empowers Marapu women, strengthens national and international awareness and engagement with ‘at risk’ musical genres, and forms the basis for further cultural reclamation projects.