In a bid to promote and protect traditional culture, the United Nations Education Scientific Organisation (UNESCO), in collaboration with the
Speaking to this reporter, the National Assembly Member for Janjanbareh Constituency, Hon. Foday Jibani Manka stated that the project is meant to safeguard and promote Kankurang practice. According to him, UNESCO has proclaimed Kankurang as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity in Novermber 2005.
"The proclamation of the Kankurang as masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage signified UNESCO's strategy for safeguarding of the world's living- heritage," he added.
Hon. Manka noted that the proclamation programme was created by UNESCO's General conference in 1997, and was approved by its executive board in 1998. For Hon. Manka, the proclamation of the Kankurang as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO in 2005, had encourage both Senegal and The Gambia to jointly put up a project proposal, geared towards the preservation of the Kankurang tradition in view of its outstanding valve.
He further stated that the joint submission was necessitated by the fact that Kankurang tradition traverses the borders of the two countries (The Gambia and
According to him, some of the objective of the proclamation includes awareness creation on the importance of oral and intangible heritage and the need to safeguard it.
He urged other countries to establish national inventories and take legal measures for the protection and promotion of the participation of traditional artists and local practitioners in identifying and revitalising intangible cultural heritage.
Hon. Manka further asserted that the project essentially entails the establishment of synergy between national institutions and communities, where the Kankurang tradition exists.
