The Committee
- Takes note that Botswana has nominated Wosana ritual and associated practices (No. 02117) for inscription on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding:
Wosana is a rainmaking ritual that is observed by the Bakalanga community in the Northeast and Central Districts of Botswana and in certain Zimbabwean villages along the Botswana border. The ancestral practice is characterized by rituals, prayer, feasts, song and dance. It is a collaborative practice involving traditional leadership, distinct roles, and the participation of the entire community. The related knowledge and skills are transmitted through observation, regular practice and mentoring, with new practitioners being sworn to secrecy regarding the sacred aspects of the practice. With the advent of Christianity, the observance of the ritual has decreased over time. Many traditional leaders have converted to Christianity and no longer recognize ancestral worship. The few remaining practitioners have to travel to one of the three villages that still observe the ritual. Furthermore, some of the songs, dances and objects related to the Wosana ritual have been misappropriated and are being used out of context. This has led to the gradual distortion of the ritual and a disregard for the taboos associated with it. It has also resulted in the neglect of the related cultural spaces.
- Considers that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria for inscription on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding:
U.1: The bearers and practitioners of the element include leading families, chiefs and male and female community members, all of whom take on various roles and responsibilities. The mode of knowledge and skills transfer is informal and includes practicing, mentoring and observation. An expression of spiritual beliefs, the element facilitates unity among the communities, creates a sense of belonging and provides an opportunity for practitioners to produce and share food in abundance. Access to the sacred drum is restricted by customs and can only be permitted by the High Priest (Mbedzi).
U.2: The factors displaying the need for urgent safeguarding of the element are demonstrated. The viability of the element is at great risk because only three out of forty-three villages associated with the element are actively engaged in its practice, and the cultural spaces associated with the element in the rest of the villages are dormant and have been desecrated due to non-use. Some traditional leaders of the villages associated with the element have converted to the Christian religion and no longer recognize ancestral worship, resulting in a decline in the practice. Moreover, songs and dances associated with the element have been misappropriated and decontextualized by non-practitioners, thereby distorting the element and violating the associated taboos.
U.3: A safeguarding plan for the element is elaborated and includes activities that allow the promotion, protection and viability of the element. Some of these activities include: (a) in-depth research on the element; (b) strengthening the capacity building for NGOs; (c) media campaign to raise awareness of the element; and (d) mapping the cultural spaces to ensure that the sites are identified, respected and cared for. The State Party’s commitment is elaborated in the detailed budget and work plan. The timelines for implementation of the safeguarding plan are also provided, and the participation of the communities in the implementation of the safeguarding plan is clearly demonstrated.
U.4: The participation of the community in the process of preparing the nomination of the file is clearly elaborated. The preparation of the nomination file was led by the North East District Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee, which acted upon the 2017 request of bearers in the community, led by the Ntongwa family. The community, including women, youth and traditional leaders, were consulted and participated in the development of the safeguarding plan. Various letters of consent to the nomination highlighting the challenges and need for urgent safeguarding are provided.
U.5: The element was listed on the North East District Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory in 2013. The inventory is maintained by the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture. Information about the inventorying process is included in the State Party’s periodic reports of 2017 and 2024.
- Decides to inscribe Wosana ritual and associated practices on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.