Inventory of traditional musics in Senegal

  • Financial assistance:
    • US$ 80,789 granted in 2012
  • Dates of implementation:
    • 12/08/2013 - 03/12/2014
  • Documents:

Benefitting country(ies): Senegal

Overview:

The main objective of this international assistance project funded by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund was the inventory of the traditional music of Senegal that encompasses a vast and diverse array of musical traditions, genres, instruments and associated craftsmanship. Its social, spiritual and cultural functions are many, including celebrations of birth, death rites, initiations, blessings, agriculture, fishing, values, and legends and myths. Large sections of Senegal’s musical heritage were poorly documented and therefore, establishing an inventory for safeguarding the heritage was an urgent task. To preserve and enhance this heritage, the project contributed to reinvigorate the chain of transmission, while strengthening the capacity of the communities concerned to inventory and manage a database on traditional music. These objectives were achieved through in-situ workshops, community-based inventory, creation of a documentary collection and database, and development of an action plan with stakeholders. The inventories have highlighted the cultural diversity of the country and consequently encouraged appropriate safeguarding plans. There were about 700 direct and indirect beneficiaries of the project including communities, musicians, traditional and political authorities, and the press. The results of this project reflect the duality of a more global approach to culture embedded in the territorialization strategy of the National Policy of Cultural Development in Senegal. This new policy aims to build on an enhanced safeguarded and valorized cultural heritage as a basis for national cohesion and leverage of sustainable local development.

News and activities:

01/07/2011 - 19/12/2014 – Traditions and practices associated with the Kayas in the sacred forests of the Mijikenda01/06/2012 - 01/12/2014 – Strengthening national capacities for effective safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in Cuba, Dominican Republic and Haiti

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