Benefitting country(ies): Burkina Faso

Overview:

Implemented by the Ministry of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, this preparatory assistance request concerns the nomination of Knowledge and skills related to the manufacture of the Saponé hat to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The element refers to the knowledge and techniques related to the production, research and manufacture of the Saponé hat, a conical hat typically made with straw and tanned leather. The production process involves all parts of society and entails two key stages: (a) the production of the basic hat, primarily the work of women and children; and (b) its decoration, primarily the work of men. There are three types of Saponé hats: the barma (made with straw and leather, with more refined embellishment), the tabdga (also made with straw and leather, but with less embellishment) and the djelbré (made only with straw). The element was inventoried and included in the list of national cultural heritage of Burkina Faso in 2023. The project also aims to encourage the element’s transmission and promote intercultural dialogue.

11/08/2025 - 30/04/2026 – Vodun, beliefs, social practices and ways of living01/08/2025 - 30/04/2026 – The Masquerade traditions of Saint Kitts and Nevis