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$10m Pledge to Promote Acehnese Dance
Made Arya Kencana | November 23, 2011

Acehnese dancers perform a Saman Gayo Dance in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on Friday. According to media reports, UNESCO is set to list the Saman as part of the world Acehnese dancers perform a Saman Gayo Dance in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on Friday. According to media reports, UNESCO is set to list the Saman as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage during the 6th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage held from Nov. 22 to 29 in Bali. (EPA Photo/Hotli Simanjuntak)
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Nusa Dua. The government has promised $10 million for a campaign to promote the traditional Saman dance from Aceh should it be included in Unesco’s list of intangible world heritage later this month.

Muhammad Nuh, the education and culture minister, said on Tuesday that it was crucial that the dance achieved international recognition.

“It comes from a place where the people have a very turbulent history, so there are fears that Saman could disappear unless it is saved,” he said at the opening of the Sixth Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, taking place in Nusa Dua.

The dance is among 22 other cultural expressions that are being discussed at the meeting for inclusion into the list.

Nuh said Unesco would announce the new items of intangible world heritage on Thursday. He added that should the Saman dance make the list, the next challenge would be to promote it.

“Indonesia has allocated $10 million to help Unesco in this program,” he said.

Mari Elka Pangestu, the tourism and creative economy minister, said that world recognition of the dance would have far-reaching economic benefits for the country, mainly through increased tourism.

In addition to its value to the tourism industry, formal recognition of the dance could also foster a thriving traditional art industry in Indonesia, she said.

Mari added that the dance was previously performed before delegates to last week’s Asean and East Asian summits, which also took place in Nusa Dua.

Irina Bokova, the Unesco director general, said a committee representing 24 countries would decide on which of the 22 proposed items to include to the list. Of the Saman dance, she said it was necessary to consider “the importance of the dance to developing universal values.”

Mexican mariachi and Portuguese fado music were also proposed for inclusion. Indonesian items already on the list are batik, wayang, keris and angklung.