adminPUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will join Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore in a joint effort by various countries to nominate zapin to be listed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) in a statement today announced that the joint nomination reflects the shared cultural heritage and close relationships that have existed for a long time between communities throughout Southeast Asia.
According to the statement, the official nomination document is scheduled to be submitted to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on or before March 31, 2027 for consideration in the 2028/2029 participation cycle.
According to MOTAC, zapin remains a dynamic living heritage that reflects the identity, continuity and shared cultural ownership among the Malay and Muslim communities throughout the region.
“Through participating in this joint nomination with UNESCO, Malaysia wants to introduce zapin more widely at the international level, as well as protect this heritage from misuse by adhering to MADANI’s core values which include inclusivity, cultural diversity and shared prosperity,” the statement said.
According to MOTAC, the joint initiative also demonstrates close cooperation between countries in sharing views and implementing efforts related to cross-border zapin.
It also reflects the concept of the “zapin ummah”, which is a cultural community from various countries that share the zapin heritage regardless of geographical and political boundaries.
“Through this joint effort, the Southeast Asian region celebrates the interconnected history and continuity of various cultural expressions including zapin, jipin, jepin, japin, dana, dincak and dambus,” the statement said.
Apart from that, according to the ministry, countries participating in the joint effort can strengthen relations by sharing cultural knowledge and expertise, especially among activists, researchers and communities.
“Future plans include collaboration at the grassroots level such as joint performances, workshops, youth exchanges and regional festivals.”
“Overall, this initiative aims to protect the zapin tradition as a living heritage, ensuring its survival for future generations, as well as strengthening regional friendship and cultural unity,” according to the statement.
According to MOTAC, communities, groups and activists who preserve, practice and pass on zapin are important parties in the nomination process, with negotiations with stakeholders currently underway to obtain their continued agreement and support.
“Comprehensive consultations with stakeholders are underway to secure the continued consent and support of local cultural actors. This joint effort respects their desire to share this living heritage on the global stage through UNESCO,” the statement said.
According to MOTAC, the nomination is not intended to claim ownership, intellectual property rights or cultural exclusivity, but rather, to protect a shared living heritage that has developed across generations.
“Our goal is to ensure that the knowledge, skills and values contained in zapin continue to be passed down from skilled practitioners to young people,” the statement said.
In Malaysia, according to MOTAC, efforts to protect and preserve zapin are also incorporated into formal education and university curricula, youth training programmes and community workshops, as well as supported by academic research, cultural festivals and digital documentation.
— BERNAMA
