Dili, November 13, 2025 (Media Democracia) – The Secretary of State for Equality (SEI) participated in the reopening ceremony of the Traditional Timor-Leste Tais Exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture (MJDAK), the State Secretariat for Arts and Culture (SEAK), together with the Curators of the 2026 Biennale Exhibition, at the SEAK building in Pantai-Kelapa, Dili. This information was accessed by Media Democracia in this week’s Wednesday report.
The Secretary of State for Equality, Elvina Sousa Carvalho, stated that traditional textiles of Timor-Leste are a cultural heritage passed down through generations. Tais in Timorese society is considered part of women’s domestic activities, using traditional equipment such as weaving frames and raw materials like cotton.
The Secretary of State explained that in the past, people made tais to meet their primary needs such as covering and protecting the body. However, in another aspect, tais holds high value in Timorese society because culturally, tais is used in traditional rituals, funerals, weddings, receiving guests, religious ceremonies, and other occasions.
“Even with influences from various cultures throughout Timor’s historical journey from prehistory to modern history, Timorese people maintain and value tais as part of Timor-Leste’s identity. This intangible cultural heritage has a wide variety, from the eastern regions to the western regions, from women’s to men’s tais. The variety reflects different ethno-linguistic groups and social classes,” said SEI Secretary of State Elvina Sousa Carvalho.
Intangible cultural heritage tais is at risk due to the impact of modernization. Therefore, the Government of Timor-Leste, through relevant ministerial lines and development partners, established the National Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage (KOMNAS PKI) of Timor-Leste with support from UNESCO to conduct research and ongoing activities to nominate this heritage as Intangible Cultural Heritage for Urgent Safeguarding on the UNESCO list.
The Secretary of State further informed that, after the nomination, Timor-Leste, as a participating state, will implement a plan to safeguard Tais for the period 2022–2025, through ministerial coordination and partnerships.
The explanation was delivered during the reopening ceremony of the Traditional Timor-Leste Tais Exhibition, attended also by members of the government, parliament, and the diplomatic corps. During the event, historical tais was also presented, produced by Dona Veronica Pereira Maia, former Secretary of State for Arts and Culture, from Darwin, Australia.
Report: Nelfiano
Photo: Media SEI