Indonesia Proposes Reog, Kebaya, And Kolintang To Become UNESCO World Heritage

JAKARTA Minister of Culture Fadli Zon expressed Indonesia's commitment to strengthening cultural diplomacy through the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. In the 19th Session of the Committee for the Protection of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage in Paraguay, he announced three Indonesian cultural heritages proposed to be included in the UNESCO list: Reog Ponorogo, Kebaya, and Kolintang.

"Traditional heritage is not only a legacy of the past, but also evidence of human resilience in facing the challenges of the modern world, such as climate change, conflict, and urbanization," Fadli Zon said in his virtual speech, as quoted in an official statement received in Jakarta, Tuesday, December 3.

Reog Ponorogo is proposed in the Urgent Safeguarding List category, while Kebaya and Kolintang fall into the heritage category involving several countries.

Fadli Zon also highlighted Indonesia's cultural diversity as the main force of cultural diplomacy. "Indonesia has more than 17,000 islands, 2,400 ethnic groups, and 720 regional languages. Through Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, we continue to preserve culture to strengthen unity in the midst of differences," he explained.

To date, Indonesia has registered 2,000 cultural elements in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage and 13 elements in the UNESCO List. This year, Indonesia is also running to become a member of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the 2026 '2030 period.

Under President Prabowo Subianto's Astacita vision, Fadli Zon emphasized that cultural conservation efforts are not only to protect tradition but also to create a more inclusive and sustainable world. "This trial is a momentum for Indonesia to strengthen global cooperation in maintaining cultural sustainability," he concluded.

This UNESCO session is an important forum for member countries to formulate a strategy to protect the world's cultural heritage. Three elements of Indonesian culture are scheduled to be tried on December 3 to 5, 2024, which shows Indonesia's role as a leader in global cultural diplomacy.