UNESCO adopts reggae as world heritage
News & Trends •
stemming from folk beliefs that deities visit communities and usher in the new year or season local people dress in outlandish costumes and visit houses as deities1 the un educational scientific and cultural organisation unesco has added jamaican reggae georgian wrestling and japanese raiho-shin rituals among six new elements to its list of intangible heritage for the world to treasure1 the intergovernmental committee for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage is meeting until december 1 in mauritius inscribing new elements to its much coveted-list1 a lot of music lovers were happy to learn that jamaican reggae originating from marginalised groups mainly in western kingston was also inscribed1 unesco said the genres contribution to international discourse on issues of injustice resistance love and humanity underscores the dynamics of the element as being at once cerebral socio-political sensual and spiritual1 from the border between asia and europe in georgia it added chidaoba which combines elements of wrestling music dance and special garments1 the practice encourages a healthy lifestyle and plays an important role in intercultural dialogue according to unesco which called its code of conduct chivalric and noted that occasionally the wrestlers leave the arena with a georgian folk dance1 hurling a field game from ireland which dates back 2000 years and features strongly in irish mythology also made the grade1 played by two teams using a wooden hurley stick and a small sliotar ball unesco said hurling is considered as an intrinsic part of irish culture and plays a central role in promoting health and wellbeing inclusiveness and team spirit1 japans raiho-shin rituals used to admonish against laziness and teach children good behaviour was another winner1 the un cultural agency said the listings were meant to further improve the visibility of often little-known and understood arts traditions1 the un cultural agency said by performing the rituals local people notably children have their identities moulded develop a sense of affiliation to their community and strengthen ties among themselves1 practised across many areas of jordan as-samer another new inscription consists mainly of dancing and singing. performed on various occasions most commonly during weddings unesco explained1 the un agency said that poetry formed an integral part of the tradition expressing feelings of joy peace intimacy and empathy among those in attendance1 marking the end of the old and beginning of a new annual horse-breeding cycle the spring festive rites of kazakh horse breeders were also inscribed1 rooted in traditional knowledge of nature and an age-old relation between man and horse the rites involve skills inherited from nomadic ancestors adapted to meet present-day conditions to ensure its continued viability1 also listed was a historic joint bid made by both north korea and south korea to include traditional korean wrestling known as ssirum or ssireum1 fundamentally linked to land and agriculture unesco said its executive director audrey azoulay was instrumental in persuading north and south koreas to combine cultural forces embracing both a national sport and a very popular cultural practice1 unesco quoted azoulay as saying the unprecedented result was a highly symbolic step towards inter-korean reconciliation that reminds us of the peace-building power of cultural heritage1 the un cultural agency said all the listed elements are important in maintaining cultural diversity in the face of growing globalisation without recognising standards of excellence or exclusivity1