The Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, approved by UNESCO in 2001, raised cultural diversity to the rank of "common heritage of humanity", "as necessary for humankind as biological diversity for living organisms". The Declaration also reaffirms the defense of cultural diversity as “ethical imperative, inseparable from respect for the dignity of the human person".
The adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003 was another decisive step in UNESCO's long-standing efforts to promote cultural diversity, responding to the threats that loom over living or intangible heritage derived of the contemporary processes of globalization and of the social transformations unprecedented in the history of mankind.
While the expression "intangible cultural heritage" is relatively new, the idea is as old as humanity itself. Intangible cultural heritage encompasses a wide range of expressions, from traditional to contemporary and, both rural and urban.
Article 2.1 of the Convention defines intangible cultural heritage as:
“The uses, representations, expressions, knowledge and techniques - together with the instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces that are inherent to them - that communities, groups and individuals recognize as an integral part of their cultural heritage. ¨
This intangible cultural heritage, which is transmitted from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities and groups depending on their environment.
The following fundamental tasks are regulated in the planning of inventory preparation projects:
- Determine the inventory objective
- Identify and associate interested communities and other actors (including NGOs)
- Create advisory mechanisms, build trust and obtain consent.
- Mobilize resources
- Identify or create the necessary structures to gather information and work in a network
- Collect and record data
- Disseminate data and facilitate access and update
DATA OF THE IMMATERIAL CULTURAL HERITAGE
Holiday control
No |
Party Name |
Municipality |
Date |
Classification |
1 |
Red and Blue sides |
Majagua |
November |
farmer |
2 |
October 10th Party |
Venezuela |
October |
traditional |
3 |
August 1st Party |
Baraguá |
August |
Anglophone |
4 |
Festiva Eva Gaspar l in memory |
Primero de Enero |
March |
traditional |
5 |
Festival Vivian Days in Memory |
Morón |
May |
traditional |
6 |
Farmer’s Dance |
Morón |
May |
traditional |
7 |
Isabel Victoria party |
Florencia |
February |
traditional |
8 |
January 28th party |
Florencia |
January |
traditional |
9 |
Neighborhood carnivals (the rooster and the hawk) |
Chambas |
August |
From the Canary Islands |
10 |
Neighborhood carnivals (plaster and saline) |
Chambas (Punta Alegre) |
December |
From the Canary Islands |
11 |
Ana María de Mar party |
Venezuela |
August |
traditional |
12 |
Festival Gladis in memory |
Baraguá |
May |
Anglophone |
13 |
Party Cefisná in memory |
Ciro Redondo |
December |
traditional |
14 |
Farmer’s Dance |
Venezuela |
August |
traditional |
15 |
Santa Teresa folklore festival |
Primero de Enero |
October |
traditional |
The Popular Art Fair is held every 2 years and all the expressions and elements of the traditional popular culture of the province and some of the rest of the country participate.
Fundamental exponent groups
No |
First name |
Municipality |
Format |
Classification |
1 |
La cinta |
Baraguá |
Dance-Music |
Anglophone |
2 |
Okay |
Venezuela |
Dance-Music |
Francophone |
3 |
Nagó |
1ro de Enero |
Dance-Music |
Francophone |
4 |
Parranda Las vueltas |
Majagua |
Carnival Group |
Farmer |
5 |
Parranda Los Hoyos |
Majagua |
Carnival Group |
Farmer |
6 |
Parranda Guayacanes |
Majagua |
Carnival Group |
Farmer |
7 |
Parranda Mamonal |
Majagua |
Carnival Group |
Farmer |
8 |
Parranda de Florencia |
Florencia |
Carnival Group |
Farmer |
9 |
La gran familia |
Ciro Redondo |
Dance-Music |
Francophone |
Reproducing groups
No |
First name |
Municipality |
Format |
Classification |
1 |
Folclórico XX Aniversario |
Majagua |
Dance-music group |
Farmer |
2 |
Fanzcetual (women stars) |
Morón |
Dance-music group |
Francophone |
3 |
Parranda Limones Palmero |
Majagua |
Carnival Group |
Farmer |
4 |
Parranda Lázaro López |
Majagua |
Carnival Group |
Farmer |
Communities
Municipality of Majagua: the Red and Blue sides party is celebrated, which consists of an artistic, cultural and social confrontation between them. It is celebrated from November 25th to 30th of each year, with the participation in its organization, design, and development of the entire population and community factors, those who work intensively in this sense the whole year. It has a countryside character and it shows the traditional Majagua dances including La Caringa, Mrs. Joaquina and Zumba Antonio. Majagua 20th Anniversary Folkloric. Las Vueltas, Los Hoyos, Guayacanes, Mamonal, Lemons Palmero, Lázaro López and the parties of the Red and Blue sides.
La Julia, Venezuela municipality: is a neighborhood where mostly descendants of Haitians live, who have preserved their main traditions including songs and dances originating in the region of their ancestors. It is the natural headquarter of the OKAY musician-dance group that owes its name to the Haitian port from which most of the emigrants who settled in this area of the southern coast of the province of Ciego de Ávila departed. Venezuela. Okay Group, October 10 Party, Ana María del Mar Party, Farmer’s Dance, Popular Handicraft Fair.
Pedro Ballester (now Velazco) belongs to the municipality Primero de Enero. The first manifestations of the Haitian culture in this area arose in this community. The main characteristic is that near the place lived the connoted promoter of this culture Eva Gaspar, to whom the annual festival that bears her name is dedicated and that is considered the one of greater participation of groups from all over the country.
Community of Tuero, municipality Morón. Here there are allegorical parties to the Haitian culture and it is the main venue of the Fanzcetual group (women stars). In this place a gigantic movement has been developed, obtaining the training by its arts promoter and an arts instructor of several children's and youth groups that practice the music and dance of their Haitian ancestors.
Santa Lucia neighborhood, municipality Ciro Redondo. Here lie the majority of the members of The Great Family band and its inhabitants are mostly descendants of Haitians of 3rd and 4th generation, although there is still a minority of 1st and 2nd generation. It is here where the rites closest to their predecessors are performed in this territory.