From ring games to masquerade: Guyanese want to preserve country’s ‘intangible cultural heritage’ 

Storytelling, ring games, masquerade and the wake being used to invoke the recent dead are just some of the cultural practices, traditions and beliefs that some believe are changing or becoming extinct.

These cultural practices, passed down from generation to generation, are a direct link to a group’s identity. To preserve these in Guyana, UNESCO and Merundoi hosted an opening ceremony on Wednesday, at Herdmanston Lodge for a workshop on the ratification of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage. The workshop was declared open to a small intimate crowd of creative, arts and culture enthusiasts.

The workshop will span a total of three days and will examine the 2003 convention, the ratification of the convention and a declaration on the way forward.

Intangible Cultural Heritage or ‘living heritage’ is important because it offers communities and individuals a sense of identity and continuity. It can promote social cohesion, respect for cultural diversity and human creativity, as well as help communities and individuals connect with each other.

“The technological age, the new alternative modes of entertainment, and particularly the very powerful social media. These things have had a devastating effect upon the survival of intangible culture”. Director of the National Theatre Arts and Drama, al creighton, jr stated.

In 2003, the UNESCO General Conference adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. As of 2019, 178 states have ratified the convention. This encourages and supports countries to take the necessary measures to ensure that communities safeguard their living heritage.

David Brown, the UNESCO Global Facilitator for the 2003 Convention, shared fond memories of his first time visiting Stabroek Market in Guyana where some of Guyana’s unique cultures stood out. Brown heard the Guyanese creole being spoken in different dialects, experienced the smells and tastes of curries and pepperpots, the aroma of incense and admired the textured cloths on display. Buyers and sellers expressed themselves through dance, music and their mode of dress, hand crafted items and tea bushes.

“All of these things constitute and complement your intangible culture. You did find that cultures were being preserved by different groups but they were not communicating with each other so it did not have a cohesive hold,” Brown stated.

Benefits of the intangible cultural heritage workshop include ensuring the safeguarding of the cultural heritage at the national and international levels, strengthening both local and national identities and ensuring openness towards other cultures, access to the intangible heritage fund and Guyana can now count on the mutual commitment of all state parties.

As the United Nations specialised agency for culture, UNESCO is tasked with safeguarding living heritage and ensuring its transition to future generations.