Four cultural elements from China and Croatia in need of urgent safeguarding, UNESCO Committee decides

The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, meeting in Nairobi from 15 to 19 November, today inscribed four new elements on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Three of these are practiced in China (Meshrep, the watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junks, printing with wooden movable type) and the fourth in Croatia (Ojkanje singing).

The List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding is a list of cultural elements whose viability is at risk despite the efforts of the communities and groups that practice them. In order to be inscribed on this list, States must pledge to implement special protection plans, established with the full participation of concerned communities. They may also benefit from financial assistance from a Fund managed by UNESCO. Furthermore, States will have to submit reports on the state of these elements four years at the latest following the inscription. The reports will describe notably the social and cultural functions of the element, its viability and the impact of the safeguarding plan and efforts. The process must involve as extensively as possible the communities, groups and individuals who are the custodians of the cultural elements declared in need of urgent safeguarding. With these new elements, the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding now comprises 16 elements. Beginning on 16 November, the 24-member Committee, chaired by Jacob Ole Miaron (Kenya), will examine 47 nominations for the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Committee, which is holding its annual meeting in Sub-Saharan Africa for the first time, is one of the governing bodies of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Adopted in 2003 and ratified by 132 States, the Convention promotes the safeguarding of elements such as oral traditions and expressions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe and traditional craftsmanship.

Croatia - Ojkanje singing - Ojkanje two-part singing, found in the Croatian regions of the Dalmatian hinterland, is performed by two or more singers (male or female) using a distinctive voice-shaking technique created by the throat. Each song lasts as long as the lead singer can hold his or her breath. Melodies are based on limited, mostly chromatic, tonal scales, and the lyrics cover diverse themes ranging from love to current social issues and politics. Ojkanje owes its survival to organized groups of local tradition bearers who continue to transmit the skills and knowledge, representing their villages at festivals in Croatia and around the world. Although Ojkanje is traditionally passed on orally, audio and video media and organized training within local folklore groups now play an increasing part in its transmission. However, the survival of individual voice-shaking techniques and numerous two-part forms depends greatly on talented, skilful singers and their capacity to perform and to pass on their knowledge to new generations. Recent conflicts and rural to urban migration that reduced the population of the region and changes in ways of life have caused a sharp decrease in the number of performers, resulting in the loss of many archaic styles and genres of solo singing.

News source: UNESCO link: article