The day-long meeting brought together different stakeholders in the sector to discuss the presented report and validate it. The 2003 UNESCO Convention on the protection of the ICH was ratified in 2011 by The Gambia.
The validation was supported by UNESCO and implemented by the National Centre for Arts and Culture.
Sanna Jarjou, focal person for Intangible Cultural Heritage for NCAC said that the report would further pave the way for the future of ICH in the country. He therefore encouraged participants to take their time to give relevant and extensive information as much as they could.
According to him, it is mandated on the implementing body and the country to report on the activities engaged for the year, prepare a report, discuss and validate it to allow the National Centre for Arts and Culture to make a final submission to UNESCO.
Hassoum Ceesay, director general of the National Centre for Arts and Culture thanked stakeholders for giving their best in discussing and validating the report.
He briefly reflected on the 2003 UNESCO Convention, saying that since The Gambia ratified it, it became a ‘must report on activities’ that the country undertook. He applauded the UNESCO office for its support to The Gambia in different areas as far as culture and relevant issues are concerned. According to him, NCAC has successfully reported on the 1972 and 2005 Conventions as required, and is now ready to submit the Country Report on the 2003 Convention.
