Bandung Seeks UNESCO Recognition for Historic Asia-Africa Street

3 days ago 14

August 26, 2025 | 07:54 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The mayor of the Indonesian city Bandung, Muhammad Farhan, is seeking to propose the recognition of the historic Asia-Africa Street as part of UNESCO's 'Memory of the World' program. According to him, this initiative is part of the Bandung government's efforts to preserve cultural heritage buildings. 

UNESCO's Memory of the World program was kickstarted in 1992, with the aim of protecting, preserving, and facilitating access to significant documentary heritage across the globe. According to Kemendikbud.go.id, there are eight documents from Indonesia included in UNESCO's MoW, one of which is the Archives of the Asian-African Conference, recognized in October 2015.

Preserving the cultural heritage of Bandung, Farhan said, is not merely about improving its physical appearance but about nurturing and preserving the character and soul of the city reflected in the historical value behind these properties.

"I believe that the Bandung City Government has an obligation to maintain the city's character, one of which is shaped by cultural heritage," said Farhan on Monday, August 25, 2025.

According to the mayor, several tangible cultural heritages in Bandung have been preserved, such as heritage buildings on Cipaganti and Supratman Streets and the Asia Africa Street. But some have been gone, including the official residence of PT KAI with Dutch colonial architecture on Jalan Cihampelas No. 149, Bandung. The building was demolished and replaced with a mosque and a minimarket.

Farhan recalled an incident where a Bandung resident requested the city to purchase their heritage house, classified as a class A cultural heritage, for Rp19 billion. "I wanted to say yes, but Rp19 billion is not my personal funds. Everything must go through the regional house of representatives (DPRD)," he said.

He emphasized that the civil servants (ASN) of Bandung must not have personal interests or be involved in private matters regarding the management of cultural heritage. "If any employee is found to violate this, I will ensure they are dealt with firmly. The government should not be in a position to agree or disagree, but to adhere to laws, government regulations, and regional regulations. Even the president's discretion must be in writing," he said.

Education About Cultural Heritage

Farhan stated that education about cultural heritage for Bandung residents is mandatory. He mentioned that there are many cases where people are unaware about a building's heritage status, which often leads to demolition.

He cited the case of Sumur Bandung, or the Bandung Well, which appears simple but is actually a historical well for the Bandung namesake. "It is a great challenge for us when the public makes queries about why an object is considered a cultural heritage. Education must be continuous; it must not stop just once," he said.

Farhan also emphasized the importance of collaborating with various parties in preserving cultural heritage in Bandung, namely the Indonesian army. The military has many historical building assets in Bandung, and he stressed that dialogue with landowners must be carried out before any utilization of buildings or land.

"If a building can then be transformed into a museum or a cafe, that would be extraordinary. But it still must go through open dialogue and collaboration," said Farhan.

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