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

The Mbira/Sansi instrument are a family of musical instruments, traditional to the people of Zimbabwe. They consist of a wooden board (often fitted with a resonator) with attached staggered metal tines, played by holding the instrument in the hands and plucking the tines with the thumbs (at minimum), the right forefinger (most mbira), and sometimes the left forefinger. Musicologists classify it as a lamellaphone, part of the plucked idiophone family of musical instruments. The "Art of crafting and playing Mbira/Sansi, the finger-plucking traditional musical instrument in Malawi and Zimbabwe" was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. The transmission has occurred through apprenticeship within the family circle. Currently, transmission also takes place through formal coaching, and Mbira/Sansi making and playing is taught in some schools. The songs contain important messages, with some guarding children against bad behavior while others condemn negative behavior in the community for example.

Traditional Mauritian Sega: The Talented Mauritian Music

Although the exact origins of the Mauritian Sega is up for debate, what is not questioned is the pure talent and vibrant performing art that is the Mauritian Sega. The self-expressive songs are often in Creole, using traditional instruments such as the Ravann, Triangle, and the Maravann. As Mauritian society is a multicultural one, the Mauritian Sega helps to alleviate the different cultures and classes to come together for one unified performance. The Sega songs are slow to start usually, with the tempo gradually increasing the singer often sings in Creole or their own language and people dance in short steps moving their hip and hand to the beat. The main practitioners are singers, dancers who transmit their skills through teaching and imitation. Traditional Mauritian Sega was inscribed to the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2014. References: ICH UNESCO, Wikipedia

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

Bigwala : The warm welcome of royal African hospitality, dance, and song Bigwala is Busoga’s music, dance, and performance of Uganda. It was historically performed infront of kings who would want their people to come together through their customary dance and music. Bigwala is formed from trumpet players ranging from four to five players who are joined by the people singing and dancing. The lyrics are often about uniting under Bigwala, marriages, and other customary norm of Busoga. The important message of Bigwala is about Busoga’s hospitality and by showing the unity through music, dance, and overall comradery in the villages; fellowship is formed. Currently there are only three living masters of Bigwala, who can precisely inherit their skills to the next generation. All three masters are of old age so letting the world know of this precious art form is necessary. Watch the video on youtube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymWBjb1VzBc&t=10s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymWBjb1VzBc&t=10s</a> References ICH UNESCO, Newvision (www.newvision.co.ug)

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 FORUM Steering Committee Port-Louis, Mauritius

Ssirum : Traditional Korean Wrestling

Falconry, a living human heritage

Falconry is the traditional activity of keeping and training falcons and other raptors to take quarry in its natural state. Originally a way of obtaining food, falconry is today identified with camaraderie and sharing rather than subsistence. It is mainly found along migration flyways and corridors, and is practised by people of all ages, men and women, amateurs and professionals. Falconers develop a strong relationship and spiritual bond with their birds, and great commitment is required to breed, train, handle and fly the falcons. Falconry is handed down from generation to generation as a cultural tradition by various means, including mentoring, learning within families and formal training in clubs. In the United Arab Emirates, Mongolia, Morocco, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, for example, falconers take their children to the desert and train them to handle the birds and build a relationship of trust with them. While falconers come from different backgrounds, they share common values, traditions and practices such as the methods of training and caring for birds, the equipment used and the bonding between falconer and bird, which are similar throughout the world. Falconry forms the basis of a wider cultural heritage, including traditional dress, food, songs, music, poetry and dance, all of which are sustained by the communities and clubs that practise it.