Indonesian Consul General Denny Lesmana wows crowds at Sharjah’s Shukran Festival with a heartfelt family band performance alongside his children on December 20, 2025. ARCHIVE

Visitors to the Shukran Festival grand finale at Sahara Centre in Sharjah were treated to an unforgettable moment when Indonesian Consul General in Dubai Denny Lesmana took the stage as a musician and father, performing alongside his children. The performance, held on Saturday (December 20), quickly became the most talked-about highlight of the evening. Lesmana played guitar, joined by his son Muhammad Aldan Arziki on drums and daughter Raissa Zalfa Aqila on electric guitar. “I am honored to celebrate with the Indonesian community here in the UAE,” Lesmana said, expressing gratitude for the warm reception. The consul general, who assumed office in August 2024, is known for his lifelong love of music, particularly the classical guitar—a passion that began during his childhood in Jakarta. “My peers and I all had our own guitars. We could carry them anywhere easily,” he once shared, noting how music has remained a constant in his life. This was not Lesmana’s first public performance as a diplomat. Last year, he also impressed guests during the 79th founding anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia with a guitar rendition of The Beatles’ "Let It Be". The Indonesian community made a strong showing at the festival’s Winter Music Festival–themed finale, presenting Balinese cultural dances, Pencak Silat martial arts, and performances by Indonesian talents that showcased the country’s rich cultural heritage. Organized by Infinite Communities, Manny Johnson Productions, and Sahara Centre, in partnership with the Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia, the Shukran Festival finale celebrated unity, gratitude, and multicultural harmony. As the curtains closed on the 2025 edition, the Indonesian community’s participation and the consul general’s heartfelt family performance stood out as one of the festival’s most inspiring moments. PIA/Expat Media
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