Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia unite to seek Unesco listing for zapin
SINGAPORE, Sept 24 — Singapore, together with Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, will jointly nominate zapin, a...
On September 24, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia will jointly submit a nomination for the traditional Malay performing art known as zapin to be recognized on the Unesco Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Chang Hwee Nee, CEO of Singapore’s National Heritage Board (NHB), explained that the regional collaboration highlights the cultural significance of zapin across Singapore and the surrounding region.
NHB stated that this will be the organization’s fourth submission to the Unesco list, following previous nominations for hawker culture, kebaya, and the upcoming Chingay submission. The first successful inscription on the list was hawker culture in 2024. The current nomination aims to strengthen cultural ties among the four countries and foster international cooperation in preserving and promoting zapin and its practitioners.
NHB emphasized that zapin remains a thriving tradition, supported by active community participation and education in Singapore. Traditional Malay performing art groups serve as vital community anchors, mentoring the next generation of zapin enthusiasts and regularly engaging the public in this culturally significant dance form.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
