The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, meeting held from December 2-6 in Asunción, (Paraguay), inscribed two new elements on the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Safeguarding. There were also 63 new cultural elements on the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the initiative of 90 countries. According to information on the UNESCO website, the decision to inscribe Wosana to the UNESCO cultural elements in need of urgent safeguarding came about following rigorous debates.
“At the end of the debates, the 24 Member States of the Committee decided to inscribe 63 new cultural elements, including two elements on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, being Wosana and Reog Ponorogo Performing Art from Indonesia,” reads the information on the UNESCO website. The Wosana ritual is observed by the Bakalanga communities in the Northeast and the Central Districts of Botswana and in certain Zimbabwean villages along the Botswana border. The ancestral practice is characterised by rituals, prayer, feasts, songs and dance. It could also be described as a collaborative practice involving traditional leadership, distinct roles, and the participation of the entire community. The related knowledge and skills are transmitted through observation, regular practice, and mentoring, with new practitioners being sworn to secrecy regarding the sacred aspects of the practice. It is said that with the advent of Christianity, the observance of the ritual has decreased over time. Many traditional leaders have converted to Christianity and no longer recognise ancestral worship.
The few remaining practitioners have to travel to one of the three villages that still observe the ritual. Furthermore, it is submitted that some of the songs, dances and objects related to the Wosana ritual have been misappropriated and are being used out of context. This has led to the gradual distortion of the ritual and a disregard for the taboos associated with it. It has also resulted in the neglect of the related cultural spaces. The addition of Wosana follows that of Dikopelo folk music of the Bakgatla-ba-ga-Kgafela in the Kgatleng District, which was inscribed by UNESCO a few years ago. With over 900 participants from 120 countries, this session of the Committee has been ranked the second largest since its creation, reflecting the growing importance attached to intangible cultural heritage.
UNESCO says these inscriptions reflect the growing role of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention in strengthening dialogue and cooperation between states, as well as their shared desire to promote this living heritage beyond their national borders. Africa’s commitment to safeguarding its living heritage was confirmed at the session with the inscription of nine elements by 12 countries and the announcement of the ratification of the Convention by two additional countries, Sierra Leone and South Africa. “Many of the elements inscribed this year illustrate the capacity of intangible cultural heritage to strengthen social ties. In this respect, 44% of them contribute to more inclusive societies, either because they foster integration within communities in a spirit of solidarity, or because they take the form of festive social gatherings, rites of passage or ceremonies linked to the community and the family setting. At least 13 elements are passed on within the family circle,” UNESCO further stated.
The 11 culinary practices inscribed this year also promote living together. By creating moments of sharing and conviviality, they are increasingly seen as essential bridges between the generations, bringing communities together. The next meeting of the Committee will take place in December 2025 in New Delhi, India.
