Singapore Hawker Culture

“Hawker culture” is the tradition or heritage of Singapore wherein people dine together at hawker centres or open-air food courts. The hawker centres were set up in the 1970s with an aim to clean the island and to accommodate street vendors also called “hawkers”.

Key Points for UPSC Prelims

• These hawker centres are known for providing a variety of cheap no-frills dishes to locals along with providing a social setting.
• This food culture of the city-state has recently been recognized by UNESCO for its cultural significance.
• Around two years after Singapore submitted a bid, the tradition has been added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
• As per the UNESCO, these hawker centres serve as ‘community dining rooms’ wherein people from different backgrounds come together and share the experience of dining.

UNESCO List of Intangible cultural heritage

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List was established in the year 2008 after the treaty named “Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage” came into effect. The list was established by UNESCO to protect the intangible cultural heritage across the world as well as to create awareness about them.

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List includes two lists- the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding List and the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

UNESCO List of Intangible cultural heritage 2020

In 2020, UNESCO has added 3 elements to the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding List and 29 elements to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity including Singapore’s hawker culture.

Elements included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding List 2020 are – Egypt’s Handmade weaving in Upper Egypt (Sa’eed); Colombia’s Traditional knowledge and techniques associated with Pasto Varnish mopa-mopa of Putumayo and Nariño; and Namibia’s Aixan/Gana/Ob#ANS TSI //Khasigu, ancestral musical sound knowledge and skills.

Elements included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity are- China’s Taijiquan, Zambia’s Budima dance, Tunisia’s Charfia fishing in the Kerkennah Islands, Argentina’s Chamamé, etc.