The Serumpun Malay Event (GEMES) has been held since 2016 and is regularly held by the Medan City Government (Pemko). This event has been officially designated as one of the 100 best tourist attractions and is included in the 2020 Indonesian Calendar of Events by the Ministry of Tourism (Kemenpar).

A press release from the Public Relations of the Regional Secretariat of Medan City stated that the implementation of GEMES is not only aimed at preserving Malay arts and culture, but is also branding the City of Medan. Apart from that, this event aims to attract the attention of local and foreign tourists to visit the capital of North Sumatra Province.

The colossal Malay dance, the Cultural Umbrella Dance was performed moments after the beating of the Malay drum to mark the official opening of the event by the Acting Mayor of Medan, accompanied by the Chairman of the Medan DPRD, Hasyim. 

Melayu Serumpun will last for three days, 1 - 3 November 2019, filled with Malay arts and culture entertainment from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei Darussalam.

Series of Serumpun Malay Title Events

At the opening ceremony of GEMES 2019, this cultural event was enlivened with colossal dances, typical Malay dances from each region as well as performances by artists from the capital city of Jakarta, including Deswa d’ Academy, Ayu d'Academy, Lusi KDI, Albi d'Academy and Intan Baiduri d'Academy.

For three nights the residents of Medan City have been entertained with very interesting traditional art and dance performances from five allied countries and 10 provinces of Indonesia. Each arts team performed a typical dance from their respective regions. The dancers, dressed in traditional clothing, dance smoothly and gracefully to the rhythm of the music. The dancers tried to perform as best as possible to entertain all the visitors present. 

In addition to presenting the arts team, each performer gave souvenirs to the Medan City Government which were symbolically handed over by representatives from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Singapore, NAD and North Labuhan Batu as a keepsake.

The souvenir was received directly by the Head of Tourism. Then Agus Suryono also responded by giving a souvenir as a thank you for participating for three days in supporting the implementation of GEMES.

Agus delivered written remarks from the Acting Mayor who was unable to attend. The message stated that GEMES should be included in the Tourism Department's permanent calendar as an effort to preserve Malay culture as well as an effort to attract local and foreign tourists. He also hopes that next year's GEMES will be attended by more allied countries in Southeast Asia, including domestic participants.

The meaning of the Serumpun Malay Title event

This event has quite an important meaning, apart from exchanging information about guidance and development between regions and between countries, it is also an effort to increase understanding and develop appreciation for art among the public as a filter for the entry of foreign culture,

It cannot be denied that acculturation to foreign cultures has touched some people. For this reason, through art, this acculturation can be filtered so that it shows national identity through educational art performances.

Art and culture are assets whose existence needs to be maintained and developed to create a society that has and maintains national identity.

The 2019 GEMES series of events closed with an epic Zapin Nusantara dance performance. This dance displays the collaboration of all GEMES performers. The event continued with performances by singer Aldy and Intan Baiduri who graduated from D'Academy.

This annual cultural event organized by the Medan City Government through the Medan City Tourism Office was originally only at provincial level and then increased to national to international.

Gelar Melayu Serumpun (GEMES) is an activity that brings together Arts and Culture and to increase local and foreign tourist visits as well as education and exploration of the diversity of Malay arts and culture as local wisdom and cultural destinations. This event is a means of education for the younger generation so that they can find out more about Malay art and culture as the original ethnic group of Medan City. 

GEMES has officially entered the 2020 Indonesian Calendar of Events and this event will be held again in November 2020.