The presentation and launching of this ICH Register was held at the NCAC Annex along Kairaba Avenue and was sponsored by the Heritage Management Organisation.
Over the years, from 2021 to 2024, the National Centre for Arts and Culture carried out inventory exercises of the Gambia’s Intangible Cultural Heritage elements in 30 communities across the country for sustainability, and listed purposes.
Speaking shortly before the launch, Hassoum Ceesay, director general of the NCAC, thanked the Heritage Management Organisation and partners - UNESCO-NATCOM and ICH facilitators for their support, while describing the ICH Register as an important document.
With this ICH Register, he said, they should be able to take one or more of the elements to seek for their list, starting as early as possible in 2025 “and this would be done with the support of the ICH facilitators and the government.”
Once again, through Denise Navarro, he thanked Dr Evangelos Kyriakidis, director of Heritage Management Organisation, Greece, for supporting the Centre for the launching.
He thanked the staff of the NCAC and HerMaP Gambia Project, an EU-sponsored project.
Denise Navarro, project manager for The Gambia Projects of the Heritage Management Organisation transmitted Dr Evangelos Kyriakidis statement of collaboration’s podcast to the audience.
Speaking in the transmitted message, Dr Evangelos Kyriakidis, director general of the Heritage Management Organisation – Greece, said the launched ICH Register will lay a firm foundation for the documentation to be taken seriously and done properly so that they could use it for the benefit of communities, individuals, families, and ultimately for the identity of every Gambian and a lot of the people who are looking at The Gambia as a place of origin.
NCAC, he noted, has been making large strides in the last few years, by building its capacity, developing its programmes, and engaging with communities, “and we are very proud here at the Heritage Management Organisation to be a key partner of NCAC in their very significant efforts.”
“Most recently, a group of Parliamentarians came to Greece and worked with us to develop a heritage caucus, which we very much hope to be another vehicle for promotion of heritage in the country. I, therefore, thank everybody for their active engagement, good partnership, and collaboration,” Dr. Evangelos expressed appreciation.
Maimuna Sidibeh, secretary-general of NATCOM-UNESCO applauded NCAC, Heritage Management Organisation, partners, and all those who have worked tirelessly to make the document and launching possible while extending appreciation to the former director general of the NCAC for being around to witness the presentation and launch of the ICH Register.
She reiterated the effort of the NCAC, which she said the National Commission for UNESCO was really proud of such an initiative.
