The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on December 16, 2020 included Singapore’s hawker culture in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at a virtual ceremony. In March 2020, the Government of Singapore had submitted a nomination for Singapore hawker culture to be inscribed on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Hereafter, the Singapore government will be required to submit a report every six years to UNESCO regarding the efforts it has taken to safeguard and promote its hawker culture.
Hawker culture of Singapore refers to the community of vendors who cook and sell meals in the many hawker centres across the city-state. The food halls are considered the nation’s dining rooms, where people eat cheap, freshly cooked dishes of Chinese, Malay, and Indian origin. Besides eating, people play music, make creative art, play chess, read newspapers, etc. So, these hawker centres play a crucial role in enhancing community interactions and strengthening the social fabric. As a social space, it brings together people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
These hawker stalls of Singapore are also a huge attraction for the tourists. These hawker centres represent Singapore’s multiculturalism. The hawker culture of Singapore was depicted in movie Crazy Rich Asians.
Singapore’s hawker culture is almost 200 years old. In the early 1800s, many people of Chinese, Indian, and Malayan origin migrated from their respective countries and made Singapore their home. They started selling quick, affordable meals on street pavements, in town squares and parks or wherever they could set up their makeshift stalls. But in the early 20th century, the colonial government felt that these hawkers had become a nuisance. In the 1920s, the city’s health officer wanted to remove them. However, the move was opposed by the public. Ten years later, the Government of Singapore had to recognise that they were an essential part of the city culture.