Denpasar Museum Hosts Mesatua Competition for 26 Students

Denpasar — Twenty-six junior-high students took part in a mesatua storytelling competition at Museum Bali on Oct. 22, 2026, bringing a traditional Balinese oral practice into a setting designed to connect younger residents with the island’s cultural heritage.

The competition was organized by the Regional Technical Implementation Unit of Museum Bali. Students performed the Balinese stories Mén Brayut and I Jeblek. The event also formed part of the museum’s education programming.

Why the competition matters to Bali’s younger readers

Mesatua is a form of storytelling in the Balinese language. For foreign residents and visitors, the event illustrates how cultural preservation can take place beyond performances aimed at tourists: a museum used a student competition to keep an oral tradition in active use and to make its collections and programs part of young people’s education.

Paeno, head of the museum unit’s education and preparation section, said the competition was intended to introduce Museum Bali to students. The museum’s role, as described in the report, extends beyond storing historical objects to serving as an educational space and a venue where young people can develop their abilities.

The competition therefore combined language, performance and heritage education. Its focus on junior-high students gave younger participants a direct role in presenting Balinese stories, while the museum provided the setting for an activity linked to the island’s cultural traditions.

Sources

• NusaBali — Indonesian news report
• detikBali — Indonesian news report on Museum Bali programs
• pendidikan.denpasarkota.go.id
• instiki.ac.id