Intangible Heritage

The growing awareness of the importance of intangible heritage as a factor of identity and local development adds to the dual mission of safeguarding the of Cultural Heritage Institute, in strict consensus and partnership with communities, civil society organizations, local authorities and non-governmental organizations. and, heritage education for the particularities of intangible cultural heritage, due to its characteristics of intangible, volatile, fragile heritage, but fundamental to the affirmation of cultural diversity, to dialogue and mutual respect, to integration.

IP domains

• Skills linked to traditional handicrafts

The point where the tangible and intangible merge. The object of the convention is not the piece itself, but the knowledge associated with its elaboration that must be preserved and transmitted between generations. The form in which this knowledge and know-how is manifested varies, ranging from pottery to jewellery, clothing and toys.

• Knowledge and practices related to nature and the universe

Knowledge, practices, ways of doing, skills that the community develops from the interaction with the environment, resulting in a set of values, ways of seeing the world, representations and beliefs. A wide range of expressions and practices as diverse as the sociocultural and environmental contexts that give rise to them and are often at the base of other manifestations of the intangible.

• artistic expressions

Here we speak of performing arts such as music, theatre, dance and other forms of cultural expressions which are the fruit of human creativity and which may be associated with other manifestations of intangible cultural heritage.

• Social practices, rituals and festive events

Everyday practices, routine or cyclical, public or private, that structure life and define the identity of a group or community.

• Traditions and oral expressions

Including language as a vehicle for transmitting intangible cultural heritage, such as legends, proverbs, riddles, popular songs, songs, work songs, prayers. That is, oral expressions that transmit knowledge, memories and that have language as a vehicle.

National Inventory of Intangible Heritage

The preparation of one or more inventories of the intangible cultural heritage present in their territory is one of the responsibilities of States Parties under Article 12 of the 2003 Convention, with the participation of relevant communities, groups and non-governmental organisations.

Even though it is the responsibility of the State, inventories can also be directed by interested communities or other bodies, as long as they have the participation and consent of the detaining community. However, these inventories, carried out without State intervention, must be validated by the corresponding State body in order to be recognized as carried out in the light of the Convention. The inventory is an ongoing process due to the large number of PCI elements, the PCI's constant evolution and feasibility status, and the need to periodically update inventories.

First measure to safeguard the CIP, the inventory must be participatory and inclusive, contributing to the safeguarding of the elements of the CIP and, in a general plan for sustainable development, good governance, social cohesion and consolidation of communities.

The Cultural Heritage Institute develops and promotes the methodology of the community-based inventory based on a participatory, systematic, updated and exhaustive survey of the manifestations of intangible cultural heritage, with the community as the author of the safeguarding process.

The inventory has as its main premise the prior, free and informed consent of the holders and/or communities. The inventory of intangible heritage properties is carried out by the communities and validated by the Cultural Heritage Institute.

The intangible properties which are the object of inventories shall be recorded in the Register of Inventory Items and may be subject to classification, if periodic inventories are justified.

Inventoried properties::

From 2016 to 2020, the IPC carried out the inventory, preceded by training communities and classifying the following elements:

1. Community-based inventory of Ribeira Grande de Santiago [Salineiro, Calabaceira and Historic center communities] – carried out within the framework of the program to strengthen the capacity of PALOP's countries to implement the Convention of 2003, having inventoried 17 elements, in the most various domains of the local PCI: knowledge and crafts; Traditional music and dances; Oral traditions; artisanal production; gastronomy; ritual practices; Festive demonstrations.
2. Classification of the LP “Boas Festas” as National Intangible Cultural Heritage;
3. Morna's inventory and application for the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
4. Inventory and classification of the “Festividade do São João” as a National intangible cultural heritage;
5. Inventory and classification of Tabanca as National Intangible Cultural Heritage;
6. Inventory and classification of the Cabo Verdean language as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage;
7. Inventory of the Pottery of Fonte Lima, Santiago island

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