Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia is set to propose three of its traditional cultural practices — Reog Ponorogo, Kebaya Indonesia, and Kolintang from North Sulawesi — for inclusion on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list this December. The announcement was made by Minister of Culture Fadli Zon during a parliamentary hearing with Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR) at the Nusantara Building, Jakarta, on Wednesday November 6.
This initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to gain greater global recognition for Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage, particularly through UNESCO’s prestigious recognition program.
“Our policy pillars focus on world heritage conservation, UNESCO recognition, and international advocacy. We aim to increase the number of Indonesian cultural elements recognized by UNESCO,” Fadli Zon stated during the hearing.
Indonesia boasts a vast cultural wealth, with nearly 2,000 cultural elements identified at the national level as Intangible Cultural Heritage. However, only 13 of these elements have so far been registered with UNESCO, highlighting the need for more concerted efforts to showcase Indonesia’s cultural legacy on the global stage.
Minister Fadli Zon emphasized the importance of this initiative, given Indonesia’s unparalleled cultural diversity. “We want to optimize our efforts to elevate Indonesia’s world heritage presence. Our cultural richness is unmatched by any other country, and we need to maximize this potential,” he said.
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Fadli Zon also underlined the government’s commitment to preserving local traditions and encouraging community involvement in cultural conservation. “We aim to revitalize local traditions, preserve indigenous arts, languages, and wisdom that are gradually fading, while actively involving local communities in these preservation efforts,” he added.
Recognizing the changing times, Fadli highlighted the importance of digital culture and the cultural economy in promoting Indonesia’s heritage on the international stage. This includes leveraging mediums like film, animation, and video games that are rooted in local cultural narratives.
According to Minister Fadli Zon, integrating traditional culture into modern creative industries will not only boost cultural promotion but also accelerate the growth of Indonesia’s creative economy.
The support of various stakeholders, including Commission X of the House of Representatives, is crucial to realizing the vision of preserving and advancing Indonesia’s cultural heritage in a sustainable and comprehensive manner, he noted.
(Raidi/Agung)
