14 Nov 2024

The North West district youth coordinator, Ms Tshoganetso Mahupe has underscored the need for the establishment of a district Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) committee, which will be responsible for preserving the rich and diverse culture as well as safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in the region. 

She said the committee would identify and decide which cultural practices and norms should be safeguarded for future generations. 

Ms Mahupe said this during the official opening of a three-day stakeholder capacity building workshop in Maun on Wednesday.

 The region, she said prided itself with the protection of rich tangible culture but emphasised the importance of preserving intangible cultural heritage as well, which she added was threatened due to developments. 

Some of the intangible cultural heritage, she said were oral traditions and practices, skills, rituals, indigenous knowledge, dance, song and festivals.

“These are forms of cultural heritage that can be recorded but cannot be touched or stored in physical form and if we don’t preserve them, they would perish. By preserving intangible cultural heritage, people can recognise its influence on the society and the economy as it can foster the sense of belonging and well-being, as well as underpinning the cultural and creative society,” she said. 

One of the facilitators, Mr Ontiretse Juramo concurred that the formation of a district ICH committee was ideal, as it would facilitate participation in the identification and definition of intangible cultural heritage, the elaboration of programmes, projects and activities, among others. 

In other areas, he said the committees were made up of different stakeholders and headed by traditional leaders as the custodian of culture. 

He informed participants about the convention for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage saying it was a UNESCO treaty that was adopted in 2003 adding that Botswana ICH membership was ratified in 2010 and had been a committee member from 2020-2024. 

The convention, he said, sets out the duties of state parties in identifying potential sites and their role in protecting and preserving them.

“By signing the convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the world heritage situated in its territory but also to protect its national heritage. The convention also aimed to raise awareness at the local, national and international levels of the importance of the intangible cultural heritage and of ensuring mutual appreciation thereof,” he added. 

Mr Juramo further said Botswana had been successful in inscribing some elements on the UNESCO list needing urgent safeguarding, citing the Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela dikopelo folk music in the Kgatleng district, which was inscribed in 2017 and the Seperu folk dance and associated practices from the Chobe district that were also included on the UNESCO urgent safeguarding list. Ends