Kebaya lands on Unesco heritage list

PETALING JAYA: The kebaya, a traditional garment beloved across Southeast Asia, has been officially added to Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The announcement was made on Wednesday during a Unesco meeting in Asunción, Paraguay, according to Unesco’s X page.

Malaysia, led by the tourism, arts and culture ministry, worked with Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand to nominate the kebaya and has agreed to safeguard the kebaya’s future by organising workshops, classes, and research projects.

The ministry describes the kebaya as a garment that “represents our rich shared history” and brings people together by promoting understanding between cultures.

Locally, the kebaya is worn by Malay, Peranakan (Baba Nyonya, Chetti, Siamese, Kristang), and other communities.

It is known for its delicate embroidery and sewing techniques which have been passed down through generations. These traditional skills meet Unesco’s criteria for intangible cultural heritage.

The kebaya also plays a key role in cultural events like weddings and festivals, and is also worn by Malaysia Airlines flight attendants.

According to a ministry handout online, the nomination process began in 2022 with officials, cultural experts, and kebaya community members from all five countries working together.

Malaysia hosted the first workshop in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, in November 2022. This was followed by another workshop in Jakarta in February 2023, hosted by Indonesia.

Singapore then led the final online meeting in March 2023 to complete the nomination.