SINGAPORE/BANGKOK: The successful inscription of the Kebaya onto the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity – a joint nomination by five Southeast Asian nations – is a milestone to be celebrated, said Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Edwin Tong.
Tong, who also serves as Chairman of the Singapore National Commission for UNESCO, added that Kebaya’s inscription highlights its cultural significance and promotes cross-cultural unity in Singapore and the region.
“It marks Singapore’s first multinational nomination and is the largest for Southeast Asia to date, in terms of the number of nominating countries, involving a collaborative effort between Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
“For the first time, these five nations have joined forces to recognise the kebaya as a symbol of our shared history and cultural identity,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by the National Heritage Board (NHB).
In a Facebook post, Tong noted that the Kebaya represents Southeast Asia’s multiculturalism and regional connections.
“The Kebaya is more than clothing; it is a living tradition reflecting history, identity, and artistry. Each Kebaya-wearing community’s unique sewing and embroidery styles highlight their cultural elements and shared heritage,” he added.
Kebaya: Knowledge, Skills, Traditions and Practices was inscribed onto the list at the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) held in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Wednesday.
The nomination fulfilled all five evaluation criteria used by the IGC.
On a related note, Thailand’s Culture Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol welcomed Kebaya’s inscription and noted that Malaysia initiated the nomination in early 2022, coordinating with Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand to prepare the necessary documents with input from their communities.
“The community of practitioners and representatives from the five countries participated in the first workshop in November 2022 in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
“They exchanged ideas, proposed measures to promote and safeguard Kebaya, and worked on preparing the documentation required for the inscription,” she said in a statement on Wednesday following the announcement.
The second workshop in February 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia, and online meetings hosted by Singapore finalised the submission documents, which were submitted to UNESCO in March 2023 for the 2024 agenda.
Explaining the significance of Kebaya, Sudawan described it as a traditional blouse with a front slit, typically adorned with intricate embroidery and lace.
“Kebaya is part of everyday attire for general occasions, as well as official events and festivals. It reflects the shared history and traditions of the region, highlights its cultural diversity, and supports sustainable development goals such as quality education, gender equality, inclusive economic growth, and fostering peace and harmony in society,” she said.
Sudawan also expressed her delight that Kebaya, often celebrated as the elegant attire of Southeast Asia, has joined Thailand’s rich roster of UNESCO-inscribed heritage in the same year as Tom Yum Kung.
She said Kebaya became Thailand’s sixth item on the Representative List, following Khon (masked dance drama), Nuad Thai (traditional Thai massage), Nora (dance drama from southern Thailand), and Songkran (the traditional Thai New Year festival). – BERNAMA
