Four Southeast Asian nations have successfully included the kebaya on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. This traditional women's garment, widely recognized in Southeast Asia, was officially added following a collaborative nomination by Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
The announcement came at approximately 9:50 PM Singapore time on December 4 during a meeting of a 24-member UNESCO intergovernmental committee in Asuncion, Paraguay, where new entries to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity were approved.
Intangible cultural heritage encompasses traditions and living expressions that are transmitted across generations, including performing arts, social practices, rituals, and celebrations.
The inclusion of the kebaya marks the second instance of Singapore submitting an intangible cultural heritage practice to UNESCO, following the addition of hawker culture to the list in 2020.
Traditionally made from various fabrics and often featuring intricate embroidery, the kebaya, a long-sleeved garment, gained popularity in the early 20th century.
When the National Heritage Board (NHB) expressed its intent to take part in the joint submission in November 2022, it emphasized that the kebaya embodies and celebrates the region's rich shared history, fosters cross-cultural understanding, and remains actively worn by many communities throughout Southeast Asia.
For example, the kebaya is a uniform worn by flight attendants for national airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and Garuda Indonesia.
