By Fatou Dahaba
The Gambia National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM) hosted a day-long seminar on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the Regional Education Directorate in Kanifing, engaging students from the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet) and the National Federation of Gambia Clubs for UNESCO (NAFGUC). The event focused on the significance of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and its integration into the national education system, highlighting The Gambia’s commitment to safeguarding its cultural legacy.
The seminar provided an in-depth exploration of the processes, procedures, and rationale behind enlisting ICH elements on UNESCO’s World Register for Intangible Cultural Heritage. In 2024, The Gambia achieved a significant milestone by successfully registering 30 ICH elements, a feat that underscores the nation’s dedication to preserving its vibrant cultural traditions.
Lamin Jarju, Senior Program Officer at UNESCO NATCOM, outlined the organization’s ongoing efforts to involve students, teachers, and curriculum officers in integrating ICH into school curricula. “We recognized the need to build on the inventory of these elements through sustained activities,” Jarju said. “This led to the launch of the project Introducing Living Heritage and Cultural Expressions in Gambian Schools to safeguard our National Inventory List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.”
Jarju explained that the journey began in 2015 with an assessment that revealed the urgent need to document and protect ICH elements at risk of extinction. “These elements are not just relics; they are living traditions that define our identity and must be preserved for future generations,” he emphasized.
Sana Jarju, Director for Literature, Performing, and Fine Arts at the National Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC), represented the Director General and stressed the transformative potential of embedding ICH in education. “This is not just an addition to the curriculum; it’s a powerful affirmation of who we are, where we come from, and how we carry our identity forward,” he said. He highlighted that integrating ICH fosters cultural pride, promotes respect for diversity, and encourages intercultural dialogue both locally and globally.
The 30 registered ICH elements span diverse domains, including oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, traditional craftsmanship, and indigenous knowledge systems. These elements, Jarju noted, are “vibrant components of our community’s present and future,” not merely remnants of the past.
Bakary Sise, Director for Education in Kanifing, reinforced the importance of incorporating ICH into the curriculum to connect students with their cultural roots. “While we’ve included cultural elements in subjects like Social and Environmental Studies, we must ask if it’s enough,” Sise remarked. “This seminar is an opportunity to scrutinize and enhance how we embed these cultural facets to ensure they resonate with students today and tomorrow, contributing to national development.”
To deepen students’ understanding, the seminar featured interactive sessions with practitioners, including pottery makers, Bulundar performers, and representatives from the Community Museum of Tanji and Kachikali. These engagements allowed students to connect directly with living cultural practices, fostering appreciation and a sense of responsibility to preserve them.
The documentation and promotion of these 30 ICH elements are seen as vital not only for cultural preservation but also for boosting The Gambia’s tourism sector. By showcasing its rich heritage, the country aims to attract global interest while instilling cultural pride among its youth.
The seminar marks a significant step in ensuring that The Gambia’s intangible cultural heritage remains a cornerstone of its national identity. Through education and community engagement, NATCOM and its partners are laying the groundwork for a future where these traditions continue to flourish, connecting generations and fostering sustainable development.
As The Gambia continues to champion its cultural heritage, initiatives like this seminar underscore the power of education in preserving the nation’s cultural identity for future generations.
