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THE FOREIGN Affairs Ministry announced that the kebaya has officially been included in the List of Intangible Heritage (WBTb) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paraguay on December 4.
According to a statement from the ministry on Friday (12/06), 2024, the kebaya has officially become Indonesia’s 15th Intangible Heritage to be included in the UNESCO list and the 2nd Intangible Heritage in the multinational nomination category after 2020.
The kebaya officially became an Intangible Cultural Heritage after the Intangible Heritage Evaluation Board recommended that the Indonesian traditional attire meet all the registration criteria set by the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand proposed including the kebaya in the WBTb of UNESCO through a unified submission to the Evaluation Board.
Indonesian Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Ambassador Mohamad Oemar, described the stipulation of the kebaya as a UNESCO Intangible Heritage as a momentous celebration of the profound historical and cultural wealth possessed by Southeast Asian countries.
“The kebaya inscription not only strengthens the bridge of understanding between cultures but also continues to be worn and appreciated by various communities in the region, making it a timeless symbol of identity and pride,” Oemar remarked.
Oemar said that the kebaya inscription plays an important role in increasing visibility, awareness, and appreciation of intangible cultural heritage practices, as well as supporting efforts to preserve them.
He also said the registration of cultural elements that have successfully entered the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List does not mean that the elements are owned by, originate from, or only exist in the country that proposed them.
In addition, Indonesian Ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, Sulaiman Syarif, expressed pride over the kebaya being included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
He affirmed that the achievement not only symbolizes the richness of Indonesian culture but also strengthens solidarity and cooperation between countries in the Southeast Asian region in preserving valuable cultural heritage.
Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon also stated that the kebaya is a cultural heritage symbolizing unity in the Southeast Asian region.
“The stipulation is a global recognition of our profound cultural values and our joint efforts in preserving culture,” he remarked.
The day before, Reog Ponorogo was also officially included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List for the “In Need of Urgent Safeguarding” category.
It is known that wayang, keris, batik, batik training, angklung, Saman dance, Noken, three genres of traditional Balinese dance, the art of making Pinisi boats, pencak silat, pantun, gamelan, and the healthy culture of drinking herbal medicine, had earlier received recognition from UNESCO. [antaranews]
