Seeking ways to better protect our intangible cultural heritage |01 September 2015

Research officers from the Department of Culture and other partners and stakeholders involved in protecting our ‘intangible cultural heritage’ are now better informed.

They recently followed a three-day information session conducted by an expert from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), Rahul Goswami, who was here to help Seychelles submit its request for technical support before it could put into application the  Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention.

The UN Convention was introduced in 2003 but came into force in 2006.

Mr Goswami said the department of culture here has achieved a lot in its effort to preserve and protect this aspect of our culture.

Intangible cultural heritage is transmitted from generation to generation, and is constantly recreated by communities and groups, in response to their environment, their interaction with nature, and their history. It provides people with a sense of identity and continuity, and promotes respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.

“The training will enable you to understand more about intangible cultural heritage, which includes the ritual practices and traditions that the community of Seychelles holds dearly to their heart, which give them their identity,” Mr Goswami said.

The director general for culture, Marcel Rosalie, said they are trying really hard to save aspects of our tradition which gives us an identity namely our traditional dance.

“Intangible cultural heritage are heritage that we can’t touch, contrary to tangible heritage which   we can touch like buildings and houses. Many heritage are not visible but they play a key role by providing us with an identity. We are trying really hard to protect two traditional dances which are tinge and moutya. Seymas is trying really hard to keep those two intangible heritage alive, hence the need for the support from Unesco,” Mr Rosalie said.