• Society

Cambodia to Submit the Krama for the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List

• By Po Sakun
• and Meng Seavmey
• March 5, 2023 4:20 PM

PHNOM PENH — The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has been working with communities across Cambodia to document the history and use of the krama so that the information can be submitted to UNESCO with a request to include this all-purpose piece of clothing on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

According to Siyonn Sophearith, director general of the ministry’s General Department of Cultural Technique, while the ministry has met with people in many parts of the country, efforts have focused on the use of the krama in Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Cham, Prey Veng and Siem Reap provinces.

“We had an inventory list of the target areas where we were planning to go: the areas where people are maintaining traditions that are considered elements of the intangible cultural heritage,” he said during an interview on March 3.

The idea of submitting the krama for the list of cultural heritage of humanity is not only an initiative of the ministry but also an initiative that has received the unanimous support of people who want to protect the country’s cultural heritage for a long time, Sophearith said.

“People in the communities gave us their opinion on how to promote this element of intangible heritage by giving us information on the weaving of the krama but mainly on how they use kramas every day…and explaining that the krama has been important to them,” he said.

In fact, they are the ones who chose the krama to be listed because they want to increase the value of weaving and using kramas, Sophearith said, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.

When the ministry’s team members went to the communities, he said, people would speak to them of the krama as something they have had and used as long as they remember, something that people value and need from birth to death. “The krama is indispensable, they said…The krama is used to wrap the newly-born baby; the krama is also used to cover a deceased person’s body at a funeral. The krama is used basically throughout their daily life,” Sophearith said.   

Following these visits to communities throughout the country, the Ministry of Culture started in 2022 to prepare the documents required by UNESCO, he said, adding that, at this point, 70 percent of the work has so far been done.

Beyond the pride of having an element of Cambodia’s heritage recognized by UNESCO, there is another reason why doing so would be important for the country. “[Although the] krama represents all Cambodians,” Sophearith explained, “intangible culture easily fades away if it is not commemorated or protected. Therefore, the krama will be permanently remembered if it’s listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”

In the meantime, the ministry recently held a workshop in Banteay Meanchey province in cooperation with UNESCO Cambodia to get people’s opinions on technical issues.

There also will be an workshop on March 17 in Siem Reap province during which the Ministry of Culture will explain what has been done to ensure that the krama will be considered for the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, and to make sure that people agree to have the krama submitted to UNESCO, Sophearith said.

Following this meeting, the ministry intends to officially submit the documents to UNESCO on March 31.

“The krama represents all Cambodians,” Sophearith said. “Intangible culture fades away easily if it is not commemorated or protected. Therefore, the krama will be permanently remembered if it’s listed as intangible cultural heritage of humanity.”

Cambodia currently has on the UNESCO list: the Royal ballet of Cambodia and the Sbek Thom, Khmer shadow theatre that were inscribed on the list in 2008; tugging rituals and games in 2015; Chapei Dang Veng in 2016; Lkhon Khol Wat Svay Andet in 2018; and the traditional martial arts kun Lbokator in 2022.

For more information on Cambodia’s entries on the list: https://ich.unesco.org/en/state/cambodia-KH?info=elements-on-the-lists