UNESCO celebrates cultural diversity

In a bid to preserve and celebrate global traditions, UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee is set to review and approve 55 nominations, including Italian opera, Bangladeshi rickshaw art, and Peruvian ceviche.

The committee will convene in the picturesque town of Kasane in Botswana to deliberate on these diverse cultural elements.

Italy has submitted a proposal to recognize the art of opera singing, emphasizing its status as an oral tradition passed down from maestro to pupil.

The bid highlights the international allure of this classical form of music, attracting students from around the world.

Bangladesh hopes to secure a spot on the prestigious list with its nomination of rickshaw art, describing it as a “roving exhibition of paintings” that has become a quintessential part of urban life in Dhaka.

Peru seeks acknowledgment for the “preparation and consumption of ceviche,” a traditional dish renowned for its raw fish marinated in lemon and seasoned with chili, pepper, and salt. The nomination underscores the dish’s transmission across generations, embodying Peru’s culinary heritage.

A collaborative effort from Azerbaijan, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Turkey aims to recognize the traditions surrounding iftar, the meal shared by Muslims at the end of a day of fasting during Ramadan. This nomination reflects the shared cultural bonds among these nations.

Other noteworthy nominations include the “traditional skills of loincloth weaving” in Ivory Coast, the emotionally charged bolero from Cuba and Mexico, and the meal-sharing tradition of iftar proposed by a coalition of nations.

Since the adoption of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003, the list has grown to include 676 traditions, ranging from well-known practices like Neapolitan pizza and Brazilian capoeira to lesser-known gems such as Belgian horseback shrimp fishing.

UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture, Ernesto Ottone, highlights the positive impact of listing traditions, citing examples like the resurgence of shrimp fishing on horseback in Belgium and the revitalization of traditional practices in Indonesia and Venezuela.

While the initial adoption of the convention faced reluctance, it has now garnered support from 181 countries.

Collaborative efforts, like the joint petitions for Arabic calligraphy and falconry, showcase the collective commitment to preserving shared traditions.

This year’s nominations also spotlight the need to safeguard endangered traditions, including Syrian glassblowing, Turkish olive cultivation, and Mek Mulung, an all-male performance art from Malaysia. As UNESCO continues its mission to celebrate and protect cultural diversity, the world awaits the committee’s decisions in Kasane.