From 4 April to 24 Could 2023, study extra about kebaya as a type of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and the neighborhood tales behind them at Love, Kebaya Travelling Exhibition. Kebaya has been submitted as a multinational nomination “Kebaya: Information, Abilities, Traditions and Practices” to the UNESCO Consultant Checklist of the ICH of Humanity.
The travelling exhibition will kick off on the Nationwide Museum of Singapore and journey to varied areas round Singapore thereafter. It should function neighborhood contributions, together with six kebaya created by kebaya craftspersons and practitioners, and images.
The pictures present kebaya worn by girls of assorted communities in Singapore, together with Malay, Peranakan and Eurasian communities, throughout completely different time durations and events – as informal put on, at festive events and necessary rites of passage, or as a part of conventional performing arts.
Continued Neighborhood Engagement
The Love, Kebaya travelling exhibition builds on Nationwide Heritage Board’s (NHB) efforts to interact and contain the neighborhood in all levels of the nomination course of. NHB is intently supported by a area people community of 51 kebaya stakeholders, Kawan Kebaya (Associates of Kebaya), whose efforts have been instrumental in encouraging a deeper consciousness and appreciation of kebaya amongst Singaporeans.
Affiliation, Singapore of their
kebaya (c. 2022).
Picture courtesy of The Eurasian
Affiliation, Singapore.
Kawan Kebaya members had earlier taken half in a sequence of focus group discussions in Singapore organised by NHB to share details about kebaya and focus on safeguarding measures, and in addition supplied letters of consent and assist for the nomination.
photograph collectively together with her sisters Siti Saodah
Bte Mohamad and Siti Asiah Bte Mohamed
of their kebaya in entrance of their residence (c.
Nineteen Sixties).
Picture courtesy of Haslinda Putri Harun.
A number of Kawan Kebaya members additionally attended joint workshops on-line and in Malaysia and Indonesia to debate and put together the nomination file with neighborhood and authorities representatives from the opposite taking part nations.
bridesmaids carrying
kebaya at a marriage.
(c. 2020).
Picture courtesy of Toko
Aljunied.
Members of Kawan Kebaya actively contributed content material and kebaya for the Love, Kebaya exhibition. As well as, they supplied steering and have been featured in NHB’s #WeHeartKebaya digital marketing campaign, which has generated over 240 entries so far from members of the general public sharing tales about their kebaya.
All are welcome to proceed to publish their private photographs and use the hashtag to share their love for the long-lasting garment.
Safeguarding efforts for kebaya
Kawan Kebaya members have been actively concerned in organising talks and workshops to transmit abilities and information on kebaya.
Additional outreach programmes on kebaya are being deliberate. The Peranakan Museum will host a kebaya showcase in June 2023, which is able to function and rejoice kebaya as a garment worn by girls of various communities residing in Southeast Asia, rooted within the conventional style of the Malay and Indonesian World.
The Malay Heritage Centre will even function kebaya in a few of its outreach initiatives and curatorial efforts, similar to in its annual Hari Raya video in April 2023 and roadshow on Malay textiles from mid-June 2023 onwards.
Multinational Nomination of “Kebaya: Information, Abilities, Traditions and Practices”
As introduced by Malaysia, the 5 taking part nations – Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand – have collectively submitted the multinational nomination to inscribe “Kebaya: Information, Abilities, Traditions and Practices” on the UNESCO Consultant Checklist of ICH of Humanity in finish March 2023.
The 5 nations labored collectively on a multinational nomination for the primary time, to rejoice kebaya as a type of shared heritage within the area, and an ICH factor that transcends ethnicity and faith, facilitates dialogues and unites Southeast Asian communities.
Kebaya continues to be actively produced and worn by many communities as we speak, and the nomination is a chance to advertise cross-cultural understanding amongst completely different communities within the area. The nomination file submitted to UNESCO contains:
- the official nomination type;
- a set of 15 photographs representing how kebaya is practiced and safeguarded within the taking part nations;
- letters of consent and assist from neighborhood representatives from all of the taking part nations;
- a video that includes the consent and assist for the nomination by kebaya neighborhood members from all of the taking part nations; and
- a 10-minute video to offer the Analysis Physique and the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the ICH, which will likely be assessing the submission, a greater understanding of how kebaya is practised and safeguarded within the taking part nations.
UNESCO will consider the nomination file collectively submitted by all 5 taking part nations primarily based on these 5 standards:
- How “Kebaya: Information, Abilities, Traditions and Practices” meets UNESCO’s definition of ICH;
- How the potential inscription of “Kebaya: Information, Abilities, Traditions and Practices” contributes to visibility, consciousness and dialogue of ICH, and sustainable growth;
- Safeguarding measures that will defend and promote “Kebaya: Information, Abilities, Traditions and Practices”;
- Neighborhood participation within the nomination course of and consent; and
- Inclusion of kebaya within the ICH inventories of taking part nations.
The choice on the nomination will likely be reached in finish 2024.
