By: Mnena Iyorkegh, Abuja
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has underscored the promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and associated creativity as a critical tool in creating opportunities for communities and individuals to contribute to sustainable development and peace building.
The Director, UNESCO’s Regional Office for West Africa, Mr. Dimitri Sanga, stated this at the UNESCO workshop on Sharing Experiences and Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in West Africa.
Mr. Sanga, who was represented by UNESCO Head of Office in Nigeria, Mr Abdourahamane Diallo, said the workshop serves as a platform for exchange, dialogue, capacity-building and networking for its Member States.
“This workshop is also a valuable opportunity to strengthen South-South collaborations in this field, and to ensure better protection of cultural heritage in all its forms, throughout the African continent. This is one more step towards achieving the sustainable development goals and the 2063 Agenda: “The Africa Want”. “While it is clear that the notion of cultural heritage now firmly includes living heritage, S.P should continue working hard to make sure that a suitable environment and conditions are provided to bearers and practitioners to pass on their knowledge and skills to future generations. Going forward, one of the areas of our attention is the integration of living heritage in education.
According to the Regional Director, for West Africa, the 2003 Convention considers living heritage transmission through formal and non-formal education as one of the key safeguarding measures.
“As you know, West Africa is renowned for its immense and rich cultural heritage, whether tangible – real or immovable – or intangible. The last refers to practices that have a strong symbolic value for the communities that carry them, providing them with a sense of identity and continuity. Our next objective is to highlight how living heritage can contribute to face challenges of our time, namely ensuring sustainable development. Living heritage practices can play an essential role in human health, education and the environment and in turn, build sustainable peace. They can strengthen food security, or simply be a source of resilience in crisis situations. UNESCO looks forward to working with all of you to ensure that the traditions and practices of West Africa and the whole African continent, can continue to be appreciated, safeguarded and passed on. He added.
The Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening cultural ties with other West African countries in pursuant of its policy of promoting cultural diplomacy.
Musawa who was represented by one of her Special Adviser, Roshan Nanayakkara said: “We recognize the importance of collaboration and partnership in harnessing the full potential of our cultural assets and creative talents. This forum serves as a platform for us to explore new avenues of cooperation, exchange best practices, and forge lasting partnerships that will benefit our nations in the long run. It is my firm belief that by working together, pooling our resources, and sharing our expertise, we can achieve remarkable outcomes that will benefit not only our nations but the world at large”.
Musawa while commending UNESCO, for it’s partnership and supporter of Nigeria in all cultural endeavors, urged all to key into the transformative journey.
“I use this opportunity to invite each and every one of you to join us on this transformative journey towards the emergence of Africa’s cultural renaissance, leading the charge from West Africa. Let us seize this moment to strengthen our cultural bonds, ignite our creative energies, and pave the way for a future filled with hope, inspiration and prosperity. Together, we can build a world where art, culture and creativity serve as catalysts for positive change and unity.” She added
The three-day meeting brought together participants from The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone to share experiences and good practices about living heritage in the region.
