Cambodia: Krama registered on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

The Khmer krama, the country's traditional scarf, was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Asunción, Paraguay.

Cambodian woman wearing a krama. Photo CG

“It is another source of pride for the Royal Government in its 7th term to have achieved this goal for the nation and the Cambodian people as a whole,” Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet wrote in a message to his compatriots published last night, stressing that this inscription gave Cambodia and the international community the same obligation to preserve, protect and enhance the value of Krama as a legacy for the younger generation.

The PM expressed his gratitude to Their Majesties the Queen Mother and the King for their support of the Royal Government's efforts to protect the nation's cultural heritage, particularly vulnerable intangible cultural heritage.

The Prime Minister also praised the efforts and close cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and other institutions, local and foreign experts, the krama weaving community, the krama community as well as the provincial and municipal authorities, which led to the successful inclusion of krama on this prestigious list.

Samdech Thipadei also deeply thanked all his compatriots for continuing to maintain, produce and use krama in their daily lives, “which constitutes the national identity and a precious heritage”.

“Krama is an important part of Cambodian daily life, from birth to death. They use it for various purposes, such as covering themselves, decorating themselves, making clothes in all shapes and forms, protecting themselves from the sun, wiping themselves, tying it as a baby's hammock and using it in various ceremonies,” said the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.

In 2018, Cambodia broke the Guinness World Record for the longest krama with a length of 1,149.8 metres and a width of 88 centimetres.

Cambodian woman wearing a krama. Photo CG

The Kingdom has already inscribed four of its properties on the list of tangible cultural heritage, six on the list of intangible cultural heritage and three on the Memory of the World register in order to preserve the original form of culture and the priceless legacy left by the Khmer ancestors as well as the memory of Cambodian history.

The 13 sites classified as Cambodian heritage are as follows:

• Tangible cultural heritage of humanity: Angkor Archaeological Park inscribed on 14 December 1992, Preah Vihear temple on 7 July 2008, Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex on 8 July 2017 and Koh Ker archaeological site on 17 September 2023.

• Intangible cultural heritage of humanity : The Troap dance of Preah Reach (royal ballet) was inscribed on 7 November 2003; Lkhon Sbek Thom, the great shadow puppet theatre, on 25 November 2005; Tean Prot (tug-of-war) on 2 December 2015; Chapei Dang Veng, Cambodian two-string long-neck guitar, on 30 November 2016; Lkhon Khol Wat Svay Andet on 28 November 2018; and Kun Lbokator, traditional martial art, on 29 November 2022.

• Memory of the World Register: Tuol Sleng genocide archive recorded on 31 July 2009, Reamker audio file by Ta Krut on 15 May 2014; Inav Bosiba story on 30 October 2017.