The Committee

1. Takes note that Albania has nominated K’cimi dancing of Tropojë (No. 01881) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

In Albania, the k’cimi dance is a popular, festive dance performed in spontaneous gatherings or during traditional ceremonies such as weddings, birthdays, initiations and village celebrations. Typically accompanied by drums, k’cimi is performed by men, women and children of all ages, and usually in couples, with partners changing according to the occasion and the dancers’ choice. People dance face to face, without touching. They make swooning movements, raising and dropping their arms as they move around one another. According to the occasion, some dancers may wear traditional attire. During the dance, women may also wave a handkerchief, usually red in colour. The k’cimi dance is traditionally practiced by the people of Tropojë and is associated with springtime celebrations, mountainous landscapes and the flight of eagles – a symbol of strength and of collective identity. However, it is now performed year-round, including by people from other parts of Albania. Dance groups also perform the dance during festivals. K’cimi is transmitted through observation and participation during social and ceremonial occasions. During family celebrations in particular, elders show and teach children and youth the dance. The dance evokes a sense of shared identity and belonging while promoting social cohesion, freedom of expression and tolerance.

2. Considers that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

R.1:   The practitioners and bearers of the element are mainly the inhabitants of Tropojë, and those who have migrated to other parts of Albania. There are no specific gender roles associated with the dance, and the dance is highly inclusive and adaptive in nature. K’cimi is transmitted through observation and participation during social and ceremonial occasions, whether formal or informal. During family celebrations in particular, elders show and teach children and youth the dance. Classes conducted by NGOs and associations also contribute to the transmission of the element among young people. The element connects communities to their native environment, as its movements are symbolic and associated with springtime celebrations, mountainous landscapes, and the flight of eagles – a symbol of strength and of collective identity. K’cimi enables freedom of expression, and community members often refer to it as ‘contagious’. This expressive freedom encourages tolerance, appeals to youth, and enables the element to compete with other leisure activities.

R.2:   Inscription will promote living heritage practices among youth who tend to lose interest in local traditions, especially in lesser populated rural areas. It will contribute to greater appreciation of the creative dynamism of folk dancing and its capacity to integrate influences while keeping its social functions. The dance contributes to social cohesion by unifying people and communities, reinforcing cultural identity and promoting a sense of belonging despite fast-changing contexts. K’cimi also contributes to gender equality by encouraging – for females in particular - expressive creative freedom.

R.3:   K’cimi is largely safeguarded through practical transmission during frequent celebrations around life-cycle events such as births, birthdays, weddings, traditional holidays and informal social gatherings. Various safeguarding measures are in place to ensure the viability of the element. These include integration in school curricula and education programmes, as well as in the curricula of the National Dance School and the University of Arts in Tirana. Other measures include the participation of bearers and practitioners in local and regional festivals and seminars, documentation activities for the national inventory in collaboration with the communities concerned, and the creation of a Secretariat for Intangible Cultural Heritage within the National Centre of Traditional Activities.

R.4:   The nomination file was initiated by community members from the Association of K’cimi i Tropojës (AKT) during a multi-stakeholder seminar held in 2016 in Tropojë. Planning and preparations evolved gradually, with the cooperation of practitioners and other bearers and through a series of field trips and community consultations conducted in 2017, 2018 and 2021. The AKT collated documentation of the element through community participation, and engaged with community members in small, informal group meetings.

R.5:   The element was included in the National Register of Cultural Property in June 2018. The inventory is managed and maintained by the National Institute for Cultural Heritage Registration. The State Party has also implemented a project on ‘Community based Inventory of ICH in Albania with a view to safeguarding and transmitting to future generations’ in 2020 to 2022, with the support of the Convention’s International Assistance mechanism.

3. Decides to inscribe K’cimi dancing of Tropojë on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.