15 New Heritage Items Showcased West Sumatra’s Pluralism
- 09 Jul 2026 19:43 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- West Sumatra has added 15 new Indonesian Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) items, reflecting the province's cultural diversity and living pluralism.
- The newly recognized heritage includes performing arts, customary traditions, and local languages.
RRI.CO.ID, Padang - The West Sumatra Culture Agency said the listing of 15 new Indonesian Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) items demonstrates the region’s living pluralism. The newly recognized works inclusively represent a range of performing arts, customary rites, languages from diverse local communities that highlight the cultural harmony from Padang to Mentawai.
“This designation is both a source of pride and a great responsibility,” said West Sumatra Culture Head, Syaiful Bahri, in Padang on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
The 15 newly inscribed West Sumatran ICH items are Bahasa Pondok and Urak Balabek from Padang; Marinai from Sijunjung Regency; the Piriang Balenggek dance from Sawahlunto; and the Tunduak tradition from Solok City. From Solok Regency, the list includes Balaho, Indang Solok, and the Tupai Janjang Koto Hilalang dance.
The list includes the Payung (umbrella) dance from Bukittinggi, Tuddukat from the Mentawai Islands, Sirompak Taeh from Lima Puluh Kota, and Tapuang Pisang from Padang Panjang. Meanwhile, Sijoda and Kalamai from Payakumbuh, along with Goba-goba from South Solok, complete the latest additions.
With these 15 additions, West Sumatra has secured 164 nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage items since 2013. This milestone reinforces Ranah Minang’s status as one of Indonesia’s most vibrant, diverse, and well-preserved cultural centers.
Syaiful said that after receiving national recognition, these cultural practices must remain living traditions within their communities. They should be passed on to younger generations while delivering social, educational, and economic benefits to their bearers.
The diversity of the listings shows that Minangkabau and Mentawai ancestral heritage are not mere memories of the past; their values continue to animate social life today, upheld by communal principles of mutual cooperation.
As reported by Antara, in 2026 the West Sumatra Culture Agency processed 63 cultural nominations. After 15 items passed in the first term, 48 other nominations are being prepared for assessment in the second and third terms.
The nomination process is lengthy and rigorous, requiring extensive interregional coordination and documentation. It further involves compiling supporting data, producing documentary videos, conducting academic reviews, and directly engaging master practitioners. ***
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