The kebaya, a traditional women’s garment popular in Southeast Asia, has been added to the Unesco Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity through a joint nomination by Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
The decision was announced at a meeting of a 24-member Unesco intergovernmental committee held in Asunción, Paraguay.
Intangible cultural heritage refers to traditions or living expressions inherited and passed on between generations, such as performing arts, social practices and rituals.
The kebaya was jointly nominated under the title “Kebaya: Knowledge, Skills, Tradition, and Practices.”
The kebaya is a front-opening top often adorned with intricate embroidery and fastened with accessories such as kerongsang (brooches) or buttons.
Indonesian women gather to campaign to wear Indonesia's national outfit "Kebaya" during a culture movement called Selasa Berkebaya or Wearing Kebaya on Tuesday in Jakarta on July 30, 2019.//AFP
It comes in a variety of lengths, typically ending at the hip or below the knee.
The inclusion of the kebaya in the Unesco list came a few hours after Unesco agreed to list Thailand’s ‘Tom Yum Kung’ (prawn soup) as an intangible cultural heritage.
Four of Thailand’s cultural heritages have already been listed: the Songkran festival, Nora dance, Khon mask dance, and Thai massage.
