Indonesia's Ministry of Culture officially submitted three nominations to UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity before the March 31, 2025 deadline — covering the Culture of Tempe, Mak Yong Theatre, and Jaranan: Performing Arts and Ritual — with the nominations currently under evaluation for the 2026 inscription cycle.
Culture Minister Fadli Zon emphasized that the nominations reflect Indonesia's active commitment to preserving and celebrating its intangible heritage, stating that international recognition is not the end goal — but a means to ensure these traditions are preserved, celebrated, and passed down to future generations.
Each nomination carries a distinct international dimension: Mak Yong Theatre is submitted as an extension of Malaysia's existing UNESCO recognition — reflecting the art form's living presence in Indonesia's Kepulauan Riau and Sumatra — while Jaranan is jointly nominated with Suriname, honoring the deep Javanese diaspora heritage that has thrived in the South American nation for generations.
Tempe holds a particularly special case — the word itself appears in the 19th-century Javanese literary text Serat Centhini, depicting Javanese life as far back as the 16th century — making it not just a staple food but a centuries-old body of traditional knowledge, food culture, and indigenous technology that continues to evolve across Indonesia and the world.
The three nominations are part of Indonesia's broader cultural diplomacy push, with Minister Fadli also exploring future joint nominations for Javanese and Pegon scripts, while simultaneously supporting Brunei Darussalam's extension of the shared Pantun heritage — positioning Indonesia as one of the most proactive nations in the global UNESCO intangible heritage system.
