By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor Arts
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has inscribed the Tiv Kwagh-Hir performance on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The nomination of the Kwagh-Hir, an intricately woven performance, comprising a congeries of atavistic communal events expressed in the form of dance, mime, puppetry and masquerade was adopted on Thursday, December 12, 2019 at the 14th session of the Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Bogota, Colombia, making it the fifth of Nigeria’s inscription on the Representative List.
The Acting Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Mr. Louis Eriomala, who is leader of Nigerian delegation to the ICH Convention, broke the news in a telephone chat with his Media Assistant, Mr. Caleb Nor.
Eriomala, who on behalf of the Federal Government, the people of Benue State and the Tiv nation, bearers of Kwaghir Theatrical Performance, expressed profound gratitude for the inscription of Kwagh-Hir on UNESCO’s Representative List, also expressed deep appreciation to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for his support and approval for attending the meeting, which gives credence to the importance of culture in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
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He also thanked members of the Bureau for supporting the nomination of Kwagh-Hir as well as the Evaluating Committee for their hard work and a job well done.
While acknowledging contributions from colleagues in the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and NICO for putting together the nomination file, Eriomala expressed deep appreciation to Prof Gowon Ama Doki, the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Benue State University, Makurdi, who is an expert on Kwagh-Hir for being meticulous and diligent in preparing the element for eventual inscription.
Commenting on behalf of the Custodians, the Benue State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Rt. Hon. Ngunan Addingi, thanked His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom for ensuring a high powered delegation to the convention.
Expressing satisfaction with the inscription, Addingi noted that the inscription would not only increase visibility for the element but also enhance the dignity and pride of the performing community.
She, therefore, pledged govern-ment’s continued support to the safeguarding mechanisms of the element.
Over 70 countries attended the convention to seek for various inscriptions and it was a big privilege and honour done to Nigeria. By this inscription, Kwagh-Hir can now enjoy the support and protection of UNESCO.
Eriomala was accompanied by NICO’s Director of Research and Documentation, Mr. Michael Ekoko
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