Benefitting country(ies): Zambia

Overview:

Concerned about growing threats to the viability of traditional music and dance practices among the Lozi and Nkoya communities of the Western Province of Zambia, the project sought to familiarize the communities with the objectives and mechanisms of the 2003 Convention, and more specifically, with community-based inventorying through a field practicum. A parallel motivation for the project was to bring the communities together to safeguard their shared music and dance traditions, despite tensions relating to disputed lands.

While challenges arose due to weather conditions hindering transport, and friction between some leaders, the project activities were carried out within the schedule. A workshop introducing the 2003 Convention took place after community consultations and with the participation of six custodians, nine practitioners and cultural heritage professionals. This set the background for the community-based inventorying exercise, which launched the first inventory of Lozi and Nkoya music and dance practices. Six songs and five dances of the two communities were inventoried as a starting point for ongoing identification and documentation efforts. Awareness about and enthusiasm for safeguarding this heritage has been raised within the communities and among government and other cultural institutions, with other specific outcomes including an exhibition and the publication and distribution of 400 brochures on the exercise.

News and activities:

• 2017-10-09 – Promoting social cohesion through the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in the Kaoma District of Zambia

01/07/2014 - 01/07/2017 – Support to the effective implementation of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Nigeria01/02/2015 - 01/06/2017 – Strengthening capacities for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in Ecuador