DILI, 11 december 2023 (TATOLI) – The Secretary of State for Art and Culture (SoSAC) organized a national Tais Weaving Competition to promote and preserve the traditional weaving techniques of traditional clothes ‘TAIS’.
Weavers from all the municipalities will be invited to take part in the TAIS competition, which will take place from 12 to 14 december, next year.
“Tais weavers from all the municipalities will compete and show their weaving techniques during the competition,” said the Secretary of State for Arts and Culture, Jorge Soares Cristovão at the Dili Convention Center (CCD), on monday
He said the originality of Timor-Leste’s traditional textiles (TAIS) has to be promoted and preserved so that it can be passed on to the next generation: “That’s why organizing these activities is important to bring together weavers from different municipalities to demonstrate their weaving techniques.”
Cristovão said that SEAC, in close collaboration with the relevant partners, had organized training on Tais weaving techniques in order to preserve the originality of Timor-Leste’s TAIS.
“We are working with Timor Aid and the senior weavers in each municipality to provide training in Tais weaving techniques, in order to pass them on to the next generation. Girls are invited to each Municipal Tais Center to learn the weaving techniques. It’s not just about preserving the weaving techniques, but also about preserving our cultural identity,” he concluded.
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.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
