Ska and Reggae Music Education and Performance in Jamaica

Jamaican popular music--ska, rocksteady, reggae, dancehall--is the foundation of popular culture but also critical to economy, community and identity. The role of the Alpha Boys School in the development of Jamaican intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is a uniquely Jamaican story. Led by the Sisters of Mercy, a Roman Catholic order of nuns, since 1890, Alpha Boys School went on to become pioneers of ska and reggae icons. Traditionally outside the formal, mainstream music education system, Alpha's embrace of music training has led to a significant accumulation of institutional and collective knowledge around development and transmission of ICH. Following renovations during COVID, Alpha launched a tertiary degree and is training young men and women from around Jamaica with a curriculum emphasizing Jamaican ICH. Its Community Music Programming is similarly focused on raising awareness and engagement with ICH at the educational and professional level in communities outside of Kingston.

ICH through Craft and Tourism

We bring joy to people by facilitating sustainable development that is aimed at creating income opportunities for communities across South Africa. We empower people to change their own lives by showing them how they can grow through asset-based community development, craft production, retail support, and running authentic tours and experiences. They also learn that working collaboratively and partnering with others who share their values can help their communities thrive. Established in 2004, Africa!Ignite is a leading rural development agency based in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa with operations expanding into the rest of the country - our current focus being the Eastern Cape and Gauteng. We implement holistic programmes that enable rural communities to create meaningful and sustainable income opportunities to support their livelihoods and build resilience. While we prioritize women and youth, our inclusive approach helps to unlock local value chains that benefit entire communities. Africa!Ignite operates thr

Ancestral Remedy

The active Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) domain represented by the “Ancestral Remedy” comic is rooted in oral traditions, indigenous healing practices, intergenerational wisdom, and community-based storytelling. This comic series documents and creatively transmits narratives from Kenyan informal settlements, showcasing how ancestral knowledge systems—especially those related to traditional medicine, gender roles, and community dispute resolution—are adapted in the context of urban challenges and youth identity."Ancestral Remedy" functions as a living ICH archive, illustrating:Indigenous herbal remedies and their cultural significanceStories of elders and traditional healers (waganga) in navigating health and social issuesThe use of storytelling as therapy and resistance to marginalizationYouth reinterpretation of heritage in a digital age through animation, illustration, and gamified learningThe comic is developed through community dialogues, story circles, and collaborative scriptwriting with youth and

Association of Upper Egypt for Education and Development (AUEED) presented Egyptian treasures in Cairo

Preview of the Egyptian Treasures Tour in CairoBefore the tour begins, showcasing Egyptian heritage and disseminating it in six French cities.The tour will run from March 3 to March 22, 2025.

Association of Upper Egypt for Education and Development Martial Tahtib Tournament

Final qualifiers for the Martial Tahtib Tournament, organized by the Upper Egypt Association, pitted teams from five Upper Egyptian cities. The association is known to sponsor combat Tahtib schools in several Upper Egyptian cities.

Association of Upper Egypt for Education and Development revive Nubian heritage in EMARATES

The Qitharet Taiba band is participating in the 19th edition of the Sharjah Heritage Days. The band is reviving Egyptian Nubian heritage through diverse performances and a collection of traditional songs, including a piece from the Hilali epic and some songs of joy and harvest from Upper Egypt. The performances will be held on the "Ayyam Theater," the main stage of the Sharjah Heritage Days, amidst a warm public reception of Egyptian cultural heritage. The events will run from March 10 to March 28, 2022, under the theme "Heritage and the Future." Thirty-three countries are participating in this year's Sharjah Heritage Days.

Assosiation of Upper Egypt for Education and Development in the annual meeting of the World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU)

AUEED participated in the annual meeting of the World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU) for the fourth consecutive year, presenting its experience in preserving and reviving the Tahteeb game. Nevin Wagdy, Director of the Cultural Development Program at the Upper Egypt Association, attended the meeting, which was held on Wednesday and Thursday, August 16 and 17, 2023, in Chungju, South Korea, with the participation of 70 members from 47 countries around the world. Nevin Wagdy, Director of the Cultural Development Program at the Association, was also elected Vice President of the World Martial Arts Committee for the next two years. It is noteworthy that in 2019, the Upper Egypt Association Tahtib Team represented Egypt in the Chungju Festival in South Korea, which is organized by the World Traditional Martial Arts Union (WOMAU) and under the auspices of UNESCO. The team presented many different Tahtib shows, which shed global light on Egyptian Tahtib represented by the Upper Egypt Association Tahtib Team. At the same

AUEED organized the final qualifiers for Martial Tahtib Tournament

AUEED organized the final qualifierThe Upper Egypt Association organized the final qualifiers for the Tahtib Sports Tournament on August 20 and 21 in Minya, with the participation of the association's tahtib sports teams. The association's ceremonial tahtib team in Al-Bayadiya, Minya, participated in the award ceremony for the winning teams. The qualifiers were the result of a local tournament organized by the Upper Egypt Association's Cultural Development Program over the past few months in the governorates of Luxor, Qena, Sohag, and Assiut.s for Martial Tahtib Tournament

Association of Upper Egypt for Education and Development in Global Martial Arts forum

The Upper Egypt Association for Education and Development participated in the World Forum for Traditional Martial Arts held in Cheongju, South Korea, from October 7 to 9, 2024. The paper, presented by Nevin Wagdy, Director of the Cultural Development Program at the Upper Egypt Association, showcased the association's experience in empowering and building the capacity of young men and women through the Tahtib method as an intangible human heritage to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The paper was presented by Nevin Wagdy, Director of the Cultural Development Program at the Upper Egypt Association. She also gave a lecture on the third day about the association's cultural development program activities in light of the Sustainable Development Goals. Relations between the Upper Egypt Association and the World Traditional Martial Arts Union (WOMAU) date back to 2019, when the Upper Egypt Association's Tahtib Team represented Egypt for the first time at the Chungju Festival in South Korea, organized by WOM

AUEED Martial Tahtib Team in "Peace Road" event hosted by the French Cultural Center

On February 5, 2025, the Tahtib Sports Team, affiliated with the Upper Egypt Association for Education and Development (Sohag), participated in a performance as part of the "Peace Road" event hosted by the French Cultural Center in El-Monira. The event was attended by the French Ambassador to Egypt, Eric Chevalier, and was met with great admiration from the audience.

Association of Upper Egypt for Education and Development (AUEED) presented"Arts from Upper Egypt to the World"

Association of Upper Egypt for Education and Development (AUEED) presented the second edition of the "Arts from Upper Egypt to the World" Festival on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at the Italian Cultural Institute Theatre in Cairo. The event was attended by Dr. Laila Iskandar, Vice president of AUEED and the former Minister of Environment of Egypt.This edition followed the festival’s first performance in November 2024 which was held at the Jesuit Theatre in Minya. The showcased performances were inspired by Minya’s cultural heritage, reinterpreted to show contemporary and pressing issues. The festival featured a mesmerizing performance of "Balad Zeinab" operetta by the AUEED Choir in Minya, alongside the "Abu Zaid" show performed by the Ceremonial Tahtib Team, both of which received an enthusiastic response from the audience.This project is funded by the European Union in collaboration with EUNIC Egypt

Assosiation of Upper Egypt for Education and Development Teams perform Egyptian ICH in Ahram Ebdo news

Le journal Al-Ahram Hebdo en français publie les détails de notre tournée artistique en France.https://french.ahram.org.eg/News/59842.aspx

AUEED from Egypt Perform Egyptian ICH "Treasures of Egypt" tour in France

The "Treasures of Egypt" tour concluded its performances in Compiègne, France. The final show witnessed a large audience turnout and remarkable audience interaction.We extend our sincere thanks to our partners, the Partage Association, for providing the opportunity for the artistic groups of the Upper Egypt Association for Education and Development to present their heritage, arts, and message calling for equality between boys and girls.This tour, which was invited by the French Partage Association to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary, ran from March 3 to 22, 2025. It included performances in seven different French cities: Lille, Paris (UNESCO), Lyon, Bordeaux, Saint-Agréve, Saint-Médard-en-Jales, and Compiègne. The performances were warmly welcomed by the French audiences in each city. Twenty-one boys and girls from Minya and Luxor governorates, aged 11 to 13, participated in the tour, presenting distinguished performances in singing, sports, and traditional stick fighting. The aim was to promote Egyptian cu

Newly elected ICH NGO Forum Executive Board members and officers

Dear NGO members,The Electoral Board is pleased to announce the newly elected ICH NGO Forum Executive Board members and officers. As you know, In compliance with the Electoral Rules, the elections this year were aimed at electing members for three electoral regions (Eastern Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean, and Arab States).The newly elected ICH NGO Forum Executive Board memebers and officers are:(1) Ms. Tamara Nikolić Đerić, Association House of Batana, Croatia. Group II, Eastern Europe: Term 2023 -2025 (re-elected)(2) Ms. Irina Ruiz, Fundación INDICRI, Panama.  Group III, Latin America and the Caribbean: Term 2023 -2025(3) Mr. Bachirou Njoya, Fondation Princesse Momafon Rabiatou NJOYA, Cameroon. Group V(a), Africa: Term 2023 -2024 (4) Mr. Mohamed Lemine Beidjeu, Association Mauritanienne pour les traditions popularies, Mauritania. Group V(b), Arab states: Term 2023 -2025 (re-elected)The complete list of Executive Board members is as follows:(1) Ms. Tamara Nikolić Đerić, Association House of Batana,

Declaration on Climate Change (Final)

Dear Accredited NGO,The members of the Working Group on ICH, Climate Change and the Environment are pleased to present and invite you to vote online for the Kasane Declaration on the Safeguarding, Promotion and Mobilization of Intangible Cultural in the face of Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss. The Working Group was formed after the ICH NGO Forum symposium organized at 17COM in Rabat, Morocco, in December 2022, and it has prepared this Declaration as part of its mission.The Working Group is made up of 14 members from all regions of the world. It has worked intensively on the Declaration since September of 2023, organizing more than a dozen online meetings. It has also consulted the ANGO’s and legal experts. Two blast emails were sent to all ANGOs to solicit comments, additions and modifications. Furthermore, it posted the Declaration on the ICH NGO Forum website and on the ICH Net website, and invited all ANGOs to an online meeting on November 27 th . The reaction has been enthusiastic and positive. The m

2023 Botswana Declaration on Climate Change ICHNGO Forum Working Group Poster (Editing Process)

This is a call for the ICH NGO community to help in the editing process of the Poster that is scheduled to be presented during the 18COM at Kasane, Botswana. The following is the direction from the ICHNGO Forum Working Group on Climate Change on how to edit the poster:I am sharing with you the link of the collective poster that will be printed in A0 size.I inserted:  2023 Cresta Mowana Resort, Kasane, Botswana Declaration." as requested.As soon as we have a link on the web, I will be able to generate the QR for this collective poster. ICHNGO WorkingGroup Draft - COLLECTIVE POSTER An editable Template with the locked Colombian example to follow your examples in a similar way.  ICH NGO WorkingGroup DRAFT Template - SOLO POSTERYou don't need to download the file. Just duplicate the page and the changes will be automatically saved in the same file. The idea is to keep all the pieces ready on the cloud to distribute them on the ICH NGO FORUM website and on the social networks of each organization. Remember to incl

KASANE, BOTSWANA 18COM || ICH NGO FORUM'S TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY SYMPOSIUM, EXHIBIT POSTERS AND FULL PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES / KASANE, BOTSWANA18COM || SYMPOSIUM DU VINGTIÈME ANNIVERSAIRE DU FORUM DES ONG DU PCI, AFFICHES D'EXPOSITION ET PROGRAMME COMPLET DES ACTIVITÉS

Dear Colleagues,We are pleased to send you the attached program for the entire week of ICH NGO Forum events in Botswana, including the symposium, side events and General Assembly. Please note that the program for the symposium and poster sessions is a preliminary program, subject to additional confirmations that are received within the next two days and can be accommodated in the final program. The final program will be sent to you by Thursday, November 30th 2023. If you submitted a proposal, please look carefully at the attached preliminary program. If you are listed as doing an oral presentation or poster please check to see if the title and organizational affiliation is correct and whether you are correctly listed as doing an oral presentation in person or on Zoom. If this information is not correct or not indicated, please correct it and add any other additional information. Please kindly remember to email the PowerPoint for an oral presentation to cholponai.ug@gmail.com no later than Wednesday, November

CALL FOR PROPOSALS TO MARK THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE 2003 CONVENTION / APPEL À PROPOSITIONS POUR MARQUER LA CÉLÉBRATION DU VINGTIÈME ANNIVERSAIRE DE LA CONVENTION DE 2003

To mark the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, and to expand accredited NGOs’ foundational works, the Executive Board of ICH-NGO Forum, in association with Mali’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO will present a Symposium and Poster Sessions alongside the 18thIntergovernmental Committee (IGC) meetings in Kasane, Botswana exploring the past, present and future of safeguarding collaborations involving multiple stakeholders. Proposals are welcome from NGOs, State Parties, ICH NGO Forum Working Groups, community-based ICH bearers and practitioners, researchers and cultural heritage program administrators. The ICH NGO Forum is reaching beyond its membership of accredited NGOs in order to advance and foster dialogue among both State and Non-State actors during the 18th IGC meetings and stimulate greater collaboration and teamwork that speak to the future of the larger implementation of Article 18 within the sustainable implementation of the 2003 Con

(UPDATED) DRAFT DECLARATION ON THE SAFEGUARDING, PROMOTION AND MOBILIZATION OF ICH IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE / PROJET DE DÉCLARATION SUR LA SAUVEGARDE, LA PROMOTION ET LA MOBILISATION DU PCI FACE AU CHANGEMENT CLIMATIQUE

Dear accredited NGOs and members of the ICH NGO Forum, I am writing to let you know that the English and French versions of the Draft Declaration are now available.Please find attached files, (ENG-FR) of the Draft Declaration on the Safeguarding, Promotion, and Mobilization of ICH in the Face of Climate Change that was drafted by the Working Group on ICH, Climate Change and the Environment and submitted to the Executive Board for consideration and comments. The Executive Board has now endorsed it and has asked us to circulate it to all accredited NGOs for further comments, additions and suggested changes. Please send your comments, if you have any, by Tuesday, 28 November to the following: Sekou BERTE, Chair of the Executive Board of the ICH NGO Forum; Laurier Turgeon, Chair of the Working Group; Lubna Marium, Secretary of the Working Group: malicultureareas@gmail.com;  laurier.turgeon@hst.ulaval.ca; kanchendzonga@gmail.com). Accredited NGOs will also have a chance to comment on the Declaration at Kasane duri

Draft of the Declaration on the Safeguarding of ICH in the Face of Climate Change || Projected KASANE 18.COM ICH NGO FORUM'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY ITEM

Dear accredited NGOs and members of the ICH NGO Forum, Please find attached the Draft Declaration on the Safeguarding, Promotion, and Mobilization of ICH in the Face of Climate Change that was drafted by the Working Group on ICH,Climate Change and the Environment and submitted to the Executive Board for consideration and comments. The Executive Board has now endorsed it and has asked us to circulate it to all accredited NGOs for further comments, additions and suggested changes. Please send your comments, if you have any, by Monday, 27 November to the following: Sekou BERTE, Chair of the Executive Board of the ICH NGO Forum;Laurier Turgeon, Chair of the Working Group;Lubna Marium, Secretary of the Working Group:malicultureareas@gmail.com laurier.turgeon@hst.ulaval.cakanchendzonga@gmail.com side eventAccredited NGOs will also have a chance to comment on the Declaration at Kasane during the side eventthe WG is organizing on Tuesday 5 December 18h00. The revised and updated version of the Declarationwill be pres

2023 Elections : Executive Board Call for Candidates for the Executive Board

Dear NGO members,The Electoral Board is pleased to launch the call for candidates for the election of four members to the ICH NGO Forum Executive Board.In compliance with the Electoral Rules, the elections this year are aimed at electing members for three electoral regions(Eastern Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean, and Arab States). Because the mandate of the member representing Africa finishes this year,an election will be held on an exceptional bases for Africa for a one-year term.The Electoral Board calls all interested accredited NGOs to submit their candidature in accordance with the electoral rules and guidelines attached.Applications shall be submitted no later than October 20, 2023 (Midnight, Western European Time, UTC+1), to the members of the Electoral Board listed below, using the application form attached duly completed and including a one- or two-page curriculum vitae outlining ICH related experiences and one paragraph on Objective/Agenda/Statement of Purpose for applying for candidature.We

Dear members of the ICH NGO Forum

Dear members of the ICH NGO Forum,The Electoral Board is pleased to present the list of the eligible candidates for the 2023 elections of the Intangible Cultural Heritage NGO Forum Executive Board, for the following seats:Eastern Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean, and Arab States.Because the mandate of the member representing Africa will be finished this year, an election is held on an exceptional base to elect a member from Africa for a one-year term.We would like to thank all the candidates for their interest and participation.Candidates will be allotted a 10 minute period to present themselves and their NGOs, as well as the contribution they wish to make to the Executive Board, during a meeting scheduled with the members of the Forum on Monday 4 December between 6:00 pmand 8:00 pm in a section reserved for the NGOs located in the………(to be determined).The session will be chaired by the members of the Electoral Board.Presentations will be accessible through Zoom, recorded and made available on the Foru

Zaouli - The History Of The Zaouli Dance Of Côte d'Ivoire

The Zaouli dance is a traditional mask dance from Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa. It is performed by the Guro people and is an essential part of their cultural heritage. The dance features an ornate wooden mask with a highly stylized representation of a beautiful woman's face, adorned with a tall headdress and intricate detailing.Zaouli is typically performed at various social and religious ceremonies, such as weddings, funerals, and festivals. The dancer, often dressed in vibrant, flowing attire, moves with incredible grace and agility, imitating the mask's elegant features and expressions. The dance involves intricate footwork, rapid spins, and rhythmic hand claps accompanied by traditional music, including drums and percussion instruments.Zaouli is not only a form of entertainment but also a means of passing down cultural stories and preserving the Guro people's traditions. The dance has gained international recognition for its artistic beauty and cultural significance, making it an integral part of Ivorian he

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING TO ACCREDITED NGOS IN SITUATIONS OF CRISES

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING TOACCREDITED NGOS IN SITUATIONS OF CRISES(La version française suit / French version follows)The ICH NGO Forum launched a fundraising campaign last year to assist accredited ICH NGOs (ANGOs)impacted by emergency situations. A growing number of NGOs and communities are being struck by naturaldisasters, climate change (floods, cyclones, mud slides, heat waves, forest fires, drought), armed conflict(destruction of physical ICH spaces, mortality, forced migration, loss of ICH practices) and other crisis situations.It appears to be increasingly certain these situations will increase over time.Thanks to generous donors, the Forum’s Fundraising Committee is pleased to announce that it will provide twodonations of up to 500 euros each this year to ANGOs impacted by natural disasters and armed conflict to assistthem in their recovery. Accredited NGOs located in any country in the world experiencing situations of crisis areeligible to apply. The range of situations defined as emergency

CALL FOR PROPOSALS TO MARK THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE 2003 CONVENTION

Call for officers for the 2023 ICH NGO Forum Electoral Board (French version follows / La version française suit) The ICH NGO Forum has opened a call for officers to sit on the 2023 ICH NGO Forum Electoral Board. Applications must be submitted before 10 August 2023 midnight (Eastern Daylight Time, EDT). The Executive Board invites applications only from electoral regions that are not up for elections this year, that is Western Europe and North America, and Asia-Pacific. The ICH NGO Forum Electoral Board is responsible for organizing and overseeing elections for the ICH NGO Forum’s Executive Board, which take place during the annual sessions of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The next meeting, 18.COM, will be held in Kasane, Botswana from 4 to 9 of December 2023. According to the Electoral Rules adopted at the Extraordinary General Assembly of 2 November 2022: a. Candidates must not belong to the regions subject to election; b. Candidates must be propos

Call for officers for the 2023 ICH NGO Forum Electoral Board

Call for officers for the 2023 ICHNGO Forum Electoral Board(French version follows / La version française suit)The ICH NGO Forum has opened a call for officers to sit on the 2023 ICH NGO Forum Electoral Board.Applications must be submitted before 10 August 2023 midnight (Eastern Daylight Time, EDT). TheExecutive Board invites applications only from electoral regions that are not up for elections this year,that is Western Europe and North America, and Asia-Pacific.The ICH NGO Forum Electoral Board is responsible for organizing and overseeing elections for the ICHNGO Forum’s Executive Board, which take place during the annual sessions of the IntergovernmentalCommittee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The next meeting, 18.COM, will beheld in Kasane, Botswana from 4 to 9 of December 2023.According to the Electoral Rules adopted at the Extraordinary General Assembly of 2 November 2022:a. Candidates must not belong to the regions subject to election;b. Candidates must be proposed by an Accr

ICH NGO Forum , The 17th UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee

17COM November 27, 2022 The 17th UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee was held at the Sofitel Hotel in Rabat, Morocco, for six days from November 28 to December 3, 2022. At the entrance to the conference hall was a large flag of the Commission, which forms the Intergovernmental Committee on the Protection of Intangible Heritage. It was a valuable place to share various activities such as intangible heritage protection activities and improvement plans between countries. One of the things that gets the most attention from the Intergovernmental Committee will be the new listing of the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List. Before the committee was held, a total of 46 applications were submitted for listing on the representative list, of which 31 were recommended for listing, 14 were requested for supplementation, and one was impossible. Thirty-nine of them were registered at the committee site. Some intangible heritage sites had a tense debate.

Full programme of the ICH NGO Forum for 17COM

PROGRAMME ICH NGO Forum Activities 17COM 2022Seventeenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural HeritageSection of Ballroom, Sofitel Hotel, 450 Quartier Aviation, Rabat, MoroccoSunday, 27 November to Saturday 3 December (The schedule is indicated in Rabat time, UTC+1, same as Central European Time, CET, UTC +1)Zoom link for online participation during the entire week:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81821818235?pwd=Y0ZnUjZtRCtraVcyT2RRWTd0WWZiUT09ID of meeting : 818 2181 8235   Secret Code : 043359  Sunday, 27 November, 2022 10:00 to 11:50 AMPresentations of projects by recently accredited NGOsChairs: Tamara Nikolić Đerić, Association House of Batana (Croatia), and Sekou Berte, Mali Cultural Heritage Agency (Mali) 10:00 to 10:40 AMPaulina Adamska and Urszula Szwed, Serfenta (Poland)Susanne Verburg and Mark Schep, Dutch Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage (Netherlands)Chloé Battistolo, L’Institut national des métiers d’art français (France)Ahmet Akcan and Sona T

The seventeenth session (17COM) of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

The seventeenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will be hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco in Rabat (Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses) from 28 November to 3 December 2022.H.E. Mr Samir Addahre, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Kingdom of Morocco to UNESCO, will chair this annual gathering which will be attended by representatives of States Parties, non-governmental organizations, cultural institutions and other stakeholders from across the globe. Participants are invited to register as soon as possible and in any case before 14 November 2022.General information for this session will be published on this webpage. An information and exchange meeting was held on 4 October 2022 at UNESCO Headquarters.The working documents of the meeting will be published on this webpage by 31 October 2022.https://ich.unesco.org/en/17com

Gbofe of Afounkaha, the music of the transverse trumps of the Tagbana community, a cultural heritage in need of safeguarding

Gbofe of Afounkaha holds deep cultural and social significance in Cote d'Ivoire. It serves as a powerful medium for communication, conveying messages of praise, love, satire, mourning, and moral or educational teachings during various rituals and traditional ceremonies. Gbofe plays a vital role in conferring respect for the holders of tradition, fostering cultural unity, peace, and social cohesion among different communities and people. Additionally, it represents a crucial part of the cultural identity of the Tagbana community, preserving their historical narratives, values, and artistic expressions across generations.

Zaouli, cultural heritage of Côte d’Ivoire

The Zaouli dance of Côte d'Ivoire holds deep cultural and social significance, symbolizing various meanings and serving important roles within Ivorian communities. Its meanings and importance can be summarized as follows:Cultural Identity and Heritage: The Zaouli dance embodies the cultural identity and heritage of the communities in Côte d'Ivoire, reflecting their traditional values, beliefs, and practices. It serves as a powerful symbol of the region's rich cultural legacy, connecting the present generation with its historical and traditional roots.Celebration of Femininity and Beauty: The dance is often associated with the celebration of feminine beauty and grace, as it is performed by individuals adorned in elaborate masks and costumes representing idealized concepts of beauty. Through its intricate movements and rhythmic expressions, the Zaouli dance honors the beauty and elegance of women, portraying them as central figures in Ivorian culture.Social Cohesion and Unity: The Zaouli dance fosters social co

2020 JIAPICH Finalist- ASAMA of Burkina Faso

Art of crafting and playing Mbira/Sansi, the finger-plucking traditional musical instrument in Malawi and Zimbabwe

Traditional Mauritian Sega: The Talented Mauritian Music

Bigwala : The warm welcome of royal African hospitality, dance, and song

2018 ICH NGO FORUM : Meetings with Assistant Director-General

Meetings on ICH NGO FORUM with Assistant Director-General !

ICH NGO FORUM Steering Committee New Members!!

ICH NGO FORUM Steering Committee New Members !! Welcome !

ELECTIONS of ICH NGO FORUM Steering Committee

ELECTIONS of ICH NGO FORUMSteering CommitteePort-Louis: Mauritius

Ssirum : Traditional Korean Wrestling

Falconry, a living human heritage