Nigeria attends ICH session

SAMAN Dance from Indonesia, Fado from Portugal, and Mariachi Music from Mexico, are among the over 80 nomination being considered for inclusion of UNESCO Intangible Heritage lists at the Sixth session of the on-going Intergovernmental Committee on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).The meeting of the 135- member nation body opened on last Tuesday, at the Bali International Conference Centre, Bali, Indonesia, under the auspices of the Government of Indonesia. The meeting ending today, is expected to have all members in attendance resolve on the nominated sites. Last held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya, from November 14 to 19, 2010 the forum is also studying 17 nominations that have been recommended for the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Mali, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire will present a multinational nomination, with the Cultural Practices and Expressions related to the Balafon of the Senufo Communities.During the session, the Committee, chaired by Prof. Aman Wirakartakusumah of Indonesia, will also consider 23 nominations proposed for inscription on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of urgent safeguarding, and 12 proposals of programs for the register of Best Safeguarding Practices, just as it will also grant financial assistance for safeguarding activities and examine the first periodic reports of the States Parties on the implementation of the Convention.'As we approach the 10th Anniversary of the 2003 Convention scheduled for 2013, the Committee will also look into planned events at national, regional, sub-regional and international levels.'The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) is the UNESCO focal agency for the Safeguarding of the ICH in Nigeria. And Executive Secretary of NICO, Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, is attending the session with the Director, Training School, Mr. Innocent Itapah Azuobu, and a Deputy Director Mr. Nelson Ebi Campbell, in fulfillment of the status of Nigeria as an Observer on the Committee.
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