[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s falcon culture has a good chance of being inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, after an agency assessment body announced its recommendation on Monday (November 16) .
The UNESCO Singapore submission met all the criteria required for enrollment, as assessed. The 12-member evaluation body was appointed by an intergovernmental committee, which will announce the final decision in mid-December.
In the recommendation, it was noted that the street vendor culture is “an integral way of life in Singapore” and provides a “sense of identity and continuity for people across generations.”
The Hawker culture in Singapore is also an example of how intangible cultural heritage can thrive in a highly urbanized environment, the assessment body said.
READ: UNESCO bets not to claim ownership of the culture of street vendors: NHB
READ: To save an old school ‘zi char’ job from COVID-19, a family unites
National Heritage Board (NHB) Executive Director Chang Hwee Nee said the agency has received overwhelming support from Singaporeans since Singapore was appointed in August 2018.
“We hope that the successful inscription of street vendor culture will further increase awareness and appreciation among Singaporeans of the importance of intangible cultural heritage in our daily lives and continue to promote dialogue between our communities,” he said.
Mr. Tan Meng Dui, Executive Director of the National Environment Agency (NEA), said that street vendors are central to Singapore’s street vendor culture and NEA is “standing firm” in its efforts to attract new entrants. to trade. It will also partner with street vendors and stakeholders to maintain and strengthen the culture of street vendors.
“A successful registration in December will be the best form of recognition for all of our street vendors, past and present,” he said.
UNESCO received 42 proposals, of which 25 have been recommended for registration. In addition to street vendor culture, the Yeondeunghoe lantern lighting festival in South Korea, Swiss and French nominated watchmaking crafts, and beekeeping culture in Poland were also recommended.
The decision will be announced at the 15th session of the Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) that will take place online from December 14 to 19.
WHAT IS INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE?
UNESCO defines tangible cultural heritage as traditions and practices that are “living heritage”.
It emphasizes the wealth of knowledge and skills that is passed down through such traditions from one generation to the next.
The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity began in 2008 and recognizes these cultural practices as part of the diverse cultures of the world. The list currently comprises 463 items, including Chinese shadow puppets, French cuisine, Indonesian angklung, traditional Japanese cuisine, making and sharing kimchi, and Indian yoga.
Malaysia has three items on the list: the ancient theatrical art form of Mak Yong, silat, and dondang sayang.
WHAT DOES A REGISTRATION MEAN FOR HAWKER CULTURE?
The Hawker culture is one of the most recognized and recognized representations of Singapore’s multicultural culture and identity, said the Singapore National Heritage Board (NHB).
All Singaporeans share the falcon culture, regardless of age, ethnicity, and nationality. It is not a “dying” culture, said Dr. Wong King Yin, an expert in marketing and tourism at the Nanyang School of Business at Nanyang Technological University.
READ: UNESCO listing may elevate street vendor culture, but saving it is a different challenge, one comment
“It is still actively practiced by all who live in Singapore and it will be passed on to future generations. The inclusiveness and continuity of the culture of street vendors makes it a heritage element, ”he said.
“Street vendor culture is an important part of our heritage, because it gives everyone who lives in Singapore a sense of belonging and identity. It also helps to build social cohesion ”.
Being inscribed on the list does not mean that it is an authentic or correct form of cultural practice, according to UNESCO. Nor does it indicate that the culture of street vendors is unique to Singapore or that the way it is practiced here is superior to others.
Comment: Why are we willing to pay S $ 20 for a bowl of ramen but not bak chor mee?
READ: Do you aspire to be a street vendor? Here’s a new show that can pave the way
Associate Professor Kelvin Low from the department of sociology at the National University of Singapore said that if street vendor culture is inscribed on the intangible cultural heritage list, more attention and effort can be devoted to safeguarding it.
“More traction, visibility and awareness can be gained to increase efforts to ensure that such a relevant component of the country’s culinary history and heritage receives more attention and resources are dedicated to its livelihood and posterity,” he said.
UNESCO’s recognition of practices, forms and traditions is “one of the key elements driving future and future efforts in collective efforts to understand and recognize the role of heritage for past, present and future generations,” he added.
Whether the inscription is successful or not, the nomination of the hawker culture to the UNESCO list already reflects Singapore’s commitment to ensuring that it is sustainable for future generations, as a living heritage, the NHB spokesperson said. .
Over the years, the Government has implemented programs to help sustain the street vendor trade by attracting new entrants and supporting existing street vendors. These programs have been encouragingly accepted, the spokesperson said.
