Zambia has assured the global community of her commitment to safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) as it is an integral part of national development.
Zambia’s Expert on Intangible Cultural Heritage Moffat Moyo, reaffirmed Government’s commitment during the 19th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, taking place in Asunción, Paraguay from December 2 to 7th, 2024.
The UNESCO Convention defines ICH as practices, representations, expressions as well as the knowledge and skills (including instruments, objects, artifacts, cultural spaces) that communities, groups, and in some cases individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.
In a press release issued to ZANIS by first Secretary Press at the Zambian Embassy in Paris, France, Naomi Mweemba, Dr Moyo outlined key measures Zambia has undertaken to integrate ICH into its development agenda.
In his intervention over the Secretariat’s report regarding its activities from January to June 2024, Dr. Moyo highlighted the introduction of a degree program in ICH at university level, initially sponsored by UNESCO as a major milestone.
He stated that the initiative is part of the country’s ongoing efforts to weave ICH into its national development strategy.
Dr Moyo emphasized the significance of the degree programme at the University of Zambia (UNZA) as a crucial step towards realizing the integration of ICH in all development agenda.
He stressed that development cannot be truly sustainable without ICH as it embodies the philosophy of communities, reflecting their hopes, fears, aspirations, and expectations.
Dr Moyo acknowledged the efforts of the UNESCO Secretariat in organizing and supporting a recent workshop on capacity building for periodic reporting, from which Zambia and other African countries benefited.
This initiative resulted in a 100 percent reporting success rate across Africa.
Dr Moyo further underscored the importance of the Global Facilitators Network, in which a Zambian expert is a member.
He observed that support towards the Network has greatly benefited the country especially through UNESCO’s sponsoring of an expert to attend the Intergovernmental Committee sessions.
Dr Moyo proposed that the number of sponsored participating experts be increased to two, to broaden the recipient base from this valuable knowledge-sharing platform.
He also commended the diligent work of the evaluation body in assessing nominations of elements whose files will be considered during the current session,
Zambia is among the 183 States Parties to the Convention attending the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee in Asunción, reaffirming her role in the global effort to safeguard humanity’s intangible cultural heritage.
The Zambian delegation is led by the Director Human Resource and Administration, Ministry of Tourism, Vivien Ndhlovu, accompanied by Chief Culture and Folklore Affairs Officer Thomas Mubita, ICH Expert Dr Moyo and Senior Cultural Affairs Officer, Lungowe Mangolwa.
