What will become of Singapore’s Hawker Culture?

Singaporeans are well known for their love for food, and no food seems to play such an integral role in the nation’s history as hawker food. Singapore’s hawker culture dates back into the 1800s, originating from the early migrant population selling quick, affordable meals along the streets. During the period of 1968-1986, these street hawkers were resettled into hawker centres. These places became a means for communal bonding and a representative of multiculturalism in Singapore. Over the years Singapore’s hawker culture picked up international recognition, and on the 16 December last year, it was successfully inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This was undoubtedly a great achievement for Singapore and yet it also prompts questions about the sustainability of Singapore’s Hawker Culture amid dwindling numbers of next-generation hawkers and the recent pandemic.

29 January 2021 · loislek2018 · Third Story