Benefitting country(ies): Togo

Overview:

Implemented by CUL.DEV (Culture and Development), an accredited NGO under the Convention, this twenty-five-month project aims to identify, safeguard and promote traditional dances in Togo. The project involves inventorying the dances, including categorizing them and describing the related performance techniques, music, rhythms, contexts, dress and norms, as well as their social, spiritual and secular roles within the communities. The development of the inventory will engage youth, women and men, who will be specially trained for this purpose and will be mentored by professionals. To ensure the sustainability and transmission of the dances, the groups and associations holding the traditional knowledge and skills will contribute to the initiation of young practitioners representing communities from all Togo prefectures. The initiation sessions will be filmed and will cover techniques, songs and rituals related to the traditional dances. Demonstration sessions will also be organized in each region to feature rare or endangered dances and to present the project results to the communities concerned, dance associations, researchers, and other stakeholders. The project is expected to contribute to increased awareness about the cultural significance of traditional dances in particular, and about the importance of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in general.

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