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Republic of NamibiaMINISTRY OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND CULTUREKEYNOTE ADDRESS BYHON. KATRINA HANSE-HIMARWA, MPMINISTER ?DURING THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE 10TH SESSION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ON INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE (ICH) WINDHOEK COUNTRY CLUB HOTEL 25 NOVEMBER 2015Director of CeremoniesHon. Members of ParliamentMembers of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished Guests,Officials of the Government of the Republic of Namibia, Culture sector representatives,Members of the Media,Ladies and Gentlemen It is my singular honour and privilege to be amongst you today, and to address you at the occasion of the opening of the 10th session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). I bring greetings from His Excellency the President of the Republic of Namibia Dr Hage G. Geingob, and I welcome all our visitors from all over the world to the Land of the Brave, Namibia. May your stay in our country be as pleasant as it is fruitful. UNESCO has over the years of its existence correctly placed great emphasis on the protection of humanity’s intangible heritage. Central to UNESCO’S mission is the recognition that whatever human beings have created, built and invented over the centuries of our sojourn here on earth is the collective heritage of all humankind, for which we have to assume collective responsibility. The destruction, abuse, violation and defiling of any item diminishes us all and should be avoided at all costs. This is the spirit that led to adoption of the following conventions:The Convention for the protection of Cultural Property in the event of armed conflict (1954);The Convention for the means of Prohibiting and Prevention of the Illicit Export, Import and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970);The Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972) and The Convention for the protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001).As we gather here for the next few days, we need to ask ourselves the question, are we doing enough to preserve our Cultural Heritage? We will address the important issue of safeguarding our Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is fundamental not only to remembering our past but also vital as we celebrate a dynamic future. Intangible Cultural Heritage represents values, expertise, skills, knowledge, understanding and information sustained over time through memory and transmitted orally or through practice within a community and its neighbours and from one generation to the next. Literacy and subsequent means of recording and preserving such data reinforced attitudes that were dismissive towards intangible heritage, but it was also these very tools that made the world community more conscious of the cultural riches people had stored up in this manner over the ages. The adoption of the UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in October 2003 was an important milestone marking a latter day understanding that the world community would be poorer if we allowed the Cultural products of some members of the human family to be permanently marginalized. Many African countries, including Namibia that experienced years of colonial rule, where there heritage was treated as inferior, are direct beneficiaries of this Convention. It is therefore, befitting that this event is held once again in Africa, the continent where life began. Buried deep in this soil is the foundation of our roots and the link to our collective memory and our cultural past. I say this, because the African continent is one of the continent’s that was most severely affected by imperialism and colonialism. To this end, the Convention treats Intangible Cultural Heritage as something living and dynamic, both traditional and innovative. Preservation and Safeguarding ICH consequently implies respect for both dimensions of cultural heritage. Thus, it requires us to employ the most modern means to preserve, record and protect it. The promotion and preservation of ICH should unfold in the manner that respects the dignity of people and upholds cultural diversity. It should entail the sharing of cultural experiences among various cultural groups and develop opportunities for cultural exchange within regions and among countries.As we have witnessed from the vibrant performances of my fellow Namibians, our culture is not stagnant. It is evolving, changing with the times, and flourishing, particularly in environments where respect for the past is coupled with fresh energy and inspiration. We need to embrace our Cultural heritage, for that will strengthen us as we move forward as a people. There is an old African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” I am informed, that we have delegates representing close to 164 state parties, that are signatory to the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Each delegate brings their own unique way of practicing essential cultural activities, which have been passed on from generation to generation, found in a myriad of diverse cultures. Each country in turn has collected these to form part of its own rich cultural identity. Like the land we live on and the life that it supports, we protect what we value. For intangible culture to be kept alive, it must remain relevant in the context of the current generation, who must in turn, maintain its relevance going forward. Safeguarding our Intangible Cultural Heritage requires the transferring of knowledge, skills and meaning. It means talking, sharing, and actively focusing on protecting the processes involved in making sure that intangible cultural heritage remains an active part of life for today’s generations that they can hand over to tomorrow’s. It has been said that one will not know where they are going if they do not know where they are coming from. That is why it is important to preserve what still exists within our communities so as to share it and pass it on to our children and children’s children.Ladies and gentlemen, With its diverse cultural groups, Namibia is rich in ICH elements. Currently, thirteen elements are listed in the National Inventory, and we trust that during your stay in our country you will experience many of these important cultural activities. Many more elements have been identified for the National Inventory, and the ‘Oshituthi sho Magongo’, which is the annual Marula Festival carried out by the Oshiwambo speaking people, is the only Namibian element that has been nominated for possible inscription onto the UNESCO representative list of ICH during the 10th Session. This element was chosen due to its thorough brief and research, and is just the first of many more to come in terms of nominations aimed at safeguarding and preserving our Namibian Intangible Cultural Heritage.In the coming days, we will consider more than 40 items for inclusion in the UNESCO Representative list, including 8 nominations for the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. The importance of safeguarding of our intangible cultural heritage continues to inspire new interest from a wide variety of international organizations, including the 54 NGO’s whose accreditation will be considered during this 10th Session. These are exciting and volatile times for all of us concerned with safeguarding our intangible cultural heritage. Diverse world cultural practices and traditional performing arts are under threat due to regional conflicts and the globalization of culture. Yet, together we can take these threats and use them to our advantage, as a rallying cry for actions that will safeguard the very cultural activities that they threaten.It is said that, “A people without the knowledge of their past, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” Feel the roots of Africa, holding you strong and true, allowing us to work together to take concrete actions that will safeguard our intangible cultural heritage, actions that will be cherished for generations to come, as we begin this, the 10th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage.I wish you fruitful deliberations and have the confidence that your discussions on ways to preserve and promote Intangible Cultural Heritage, will bring to a halt the erosion and destruction of our Cultural heritage. We are fortunate that there are still some ordinary men and women of our universe who are daily weaving a memory, beading a legacy, cutting a spoor, telling a story, and loading into these bowls of history, a future for all of humanity driven by a common vision. We have a duty to ensure that the preservation of our Intangible Cultural Heritage is the responsibility of us all, we owe it to our children, the generation yet to be born, and ourselves, the gift of our Cultural Heritage. I thank you! ................
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