DILI, 13 december 2022 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture (MoHESC), urged all citizens to wear Tais during the celebration of National Tais Day, to take place on december 14.
“Everyone across the country is encouraged to wear Tais for the celebration of National Tais Day. This will help promote, protect and preserve our Tais,” said Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Culture Longuinhos dos Santos at the National Tais Exhibition at the Dili Convention Centre (DCC), today.
He said that the Government, through the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (KOMNAS PKI TL) had been implementing essential programs for the preservation of Tais.
“There are a number of important activities that had been implemented to promote, protect and preserve Tais. Such as Tais Exhibition, research, awareness raising, promotion of different Tais of each municipality, Tais waving competition, Tais certification, etc,” he said.
Santos said the involvement of academics in promoting Tais is also important: “Universities should promote Tais through extracurricular activities such as cultural ceremonies, etc.”
Santos thanked all parties for their contribution to making Timor-Leste’s national traditional textiles, ‘Tais’ classified as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO on december 14, 2021: “I would like to express my deep appreciation to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (KOMNAS PKI TL), Secretary of State for Arts and Culture (SEAC), Alola Foundation, USAID, Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO (TLNCU), Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion (SoSEI) and so on.”
João Martins, Rector of the Timor-Lorosa’e National University (UNTL) urged the younger generation to learn Tais weaving techniques from Tais weavers.
“We need to embrace this special cultural heritage. We can simply promote our Tais by wearing Tais clothes, using Tais wallets, and Tais bags, etc. We should be grateful to our ancestors for passing on this beautiful cultural heritage to our parents and we still have the opportunity to learn how to wave it,” Martins stressed.
The Government of Timor-Leste, Tais weavers, students, and the communities celebrate the first anniversary of Tais as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Following the announcement of Tais as the Intangible Cultural Heritage on december 14, the National Parliament issued and approved a parliamentary resolution to declare the day as National Tais Day, to promote, protect, and preserve Timor-Leste’s Tais.
The commemoration of the first anniversary of the National Tais Day was organized by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (KOMNAS PKI TL), MoHESC, SEAC, SoSEI, UNTL and partners with the theme: “Hau Nia Tais, Hau Nia Identidade (Tais is my identity).”
Tais weavers from 13 municipalities, including RAEOA, participate in the 3-day Tasi Exhibition (12-14 december) at the Dili Convention Centre. Several types of Tais and weaving techniques from different municipalities would be exhibited at the celebration.
Besides, several important activities would also be organized to celebrate the special day, including seminars, painting competitions, traditional music demonstrations, traditional dance presentations, etc.
The government of Timor-Leste allocated more than US$30.000 for the celebration of National Tais Day.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
