10 Dec 2023

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) committees have appreciated the experience and connections forged from the just ended 18th session of the intergovernmental committee for the ICH.

They are of the view that the just ended global conference held in Kasane accorded them a rare opportunity to learn how other countries operated towards the attainment of cultural preservation.

In an interview, North East District ICH committee secretary Goomana Onosi said despite the fact that their district had no listed element in the urgent safeguarding of ICH yet, they were optimistic that Hosana element would be inscribed next year having submitted the bid document in March this year.

Onosi stated that the district also fielded the chairperson of the Hosana Traditional Association, which was fitting because their team learnt the frameworks and requirements for an ICH to be listed and subsequently funded for safeguarding.

He said it was also fulfilling to sit alongside Botswana committees with listed elements being Kgatleng for Earthenware Pottery Making Skills and Dikopelo Folk Music of Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela and Seperu Folk-dance and Associated Practices from the Chobe District.

He stated that there was need to conduct countrywide awareness and educational tours for Batswana to learn the meaning of ICH in order to open up their minds and evoke an interest to conduct research in their own respective districts to list elements.

Seperu Association chairperson Manga Porote said safeguarding of ICH could be achieved through community involvement as the custodians and experts of culture.

She expressed her gratitude for the exposure garnered from the 18.com adding that they would like to benchmark against other elements from across the world who had listed for decades.

Porote said their association was working closely with the Chobe District ICH committee to help other custodians of culture to list their elements the way they did with Seperu.

Moreover, she indicated that the association worked in collaboration with Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture to mobilise communities to actively partake in safeguarding of Seperu folkdance.

However, she stated that some people were lagging behind due to the fact that they didn’t understand the concept and importance of safeguarding ICH. Ends