Academy hopes to get ‘boria’ recognised as Unesco World Heritage
TOWN: The Boria Academy is seeking support from the Penang government and the National Heritage Department in its effort to get the boria recognised as a Unesco World Heritage.
Its director Jibran Khalil Sindamadar says boria deserves to be elevated as a world heritage as it is a unique art form that has existed in the country since the 19th century, encompassing four elements within one performance, namely ‘sketsa’ (short plays), ‘rangkap karangan’ (lyrics), ‘tukang karang’ (singing), and additional dance movements.
Therefore, he says the academy is actively advocating for boria’s inclusion in the Unesco World Heritage List so that it can be preserved and remain a heritage that stands the test of time.
“Our efforts began in 2018, when we, together with Jawi Peranakan Organisation president Datuk Dr Wazir Jahan Karim who launched the book ‘Boria: From Passion Play To Malay-Jawi Peranakan Parody’, proposed that boria be listed as a Unesco living heritage.
“We have also submitted an application to Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik, who was then the deputy tourism, arts and culture minister. We remain hopeful that the state government, the Heritage Department and Georgetown World Heritage, would support us in this endeavour,” he told Bernama.
At the Yaribba Boria Raya Feast 2024 here Monday night, 13 individuals, including Jibran Khalil, received the ‘Seniman Boria’ certificates presented by Penang Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak. This serves as recognition and appreciation for boria practitioners who have contributed their energy and creativity to elevate this performance art for many years.
According to Jibran Khalil, the academy also proposed that Lorong Kulit be renamed ‘Jalan Boria’ as it was a well-known site of boria performances in the early 1950s.
Adding on, he said the Boria Academy, which was established 10 years ago, had been actively working to identify young talents in primary and secondary schools who could carry on the legacy.
The academy was also planning to collaborate with higher learning institutions to establish it as a research and pedagogical hub, with the aim of strengthening the art of boria and passing it on to future generations, he said.