The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, inscribed in December 2017 six new elements from Botswana, Colombia and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Mongolia, Morocco, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Cultural heritage does not end at monuments and collections of objects. It also includes a wealth of knowledge, skills and expressions transmitted from generation to generation. This is intangible cultural heritage, a living form of heritage. It evolves as people adapt their practices and traditions in response to the environments and contributes to creating a sense of identity and continuity, providing a link from the past, through the present, and into the future. But, many of its expressions and manifestations have been blurred by globalization and a lack of appreciation and understanding at the local level. If it is not defended, the intangible cultural heritage could be lost forever, or relegated to the past.
Llano work songs common to Colombia and Venezuela consist of tunes sung individually, a capella, on the themes of herding and milking. The songs are repositories of the individual and collective stories of the llaneros. The practice nonetheless faces numerous threats to its viability, such as the modification of the social, cultural and natural sites of the songs and alterations to the demographic composition of llano society. Safeguarding efforts include a pedagogical strategy for bearers and young people, training for schoolteachers and festivals.
In the long and complex process that implies a declaration of the sort, teams from Venezuela and Colombia worked hand in hand with the school of Anthropology of the Central University of Venezuela (UCV).
Intangible cultural heritage is important for cultural diversity in the face of growing globalization. Being aware of the intangible cultural heritage of different communities helps with intercultural dialogue, and encourages mutual respect.
References :
UNESCO (2003). Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Available : https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/12.COM-press_kit-EN.pdf
UNESCO (2017). Six elements inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Available: https://en.unesco.org/news/six-elements-inscribed-list-intangible-cultural-heritage-need-urgent-safeguarding
