Sulawesi's Lariangi Dance Up for Unesco Heritage Status
Jakarta. Indonesia's Ministry of Education and Culture is currently in the final phase of fulfilling all the requirements needed to nominate the Lariangi dance from Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi, for a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Intangible Cultural Heritage status.
Head of Wakatobi district's education and culture board La Ode Puasa said the traditional dance has a unique cultural value.
"The Lariangi dance is a combination of the Melayu heritage and the ancient Majapahit kingdom [in East Java]," he said on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara news agency.
Centuries ago, the dance was performed to welcome royal guests from various kingdoms across Indonesia — a tradition that continues to this day, when guests of honor arrive in Wakatobi.
"We believe the Lariangi dance is still original," La Ode added.
Unesco established its Intangible Cultural Heritage program in 2001 with the aim of ensuring the better protection of important heritages worldwide and the awareness of their significance.
Since 2008, Indonesia has enlisted seven of its cultural heritages into the list, including wayang puppet theater, batik, angklung and the Saman dance.
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