Heritage workshop strengthens community preservation work

Lobamba – Day two of the “Building Capabilities for Safeguarding Living Heritage” workshop brought cultural practitioners, community representatives and heritage officers together at King Sobhuza II Park as discussions centred on how communities can document and protect their own traditions.

The Eswatini National Trust Commission, working with the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa, continued the four day training yesterday with a focus on community based inventorying and preparing nomination files for the 2003 Convention List on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Presenters guided participants through the process of gathering information directly from communities in a manner that respects local customs, values and consent. They also explained why balanced data collection is essential for safeguarding measures that reflect the lived experiences and priorities of people who keep these traditions alive.

One of the main issues raised was ethical conduct when engaging communities. Facilitators reminded participants to observe customary practices, secure free and informed consent and protect knowledge that communities regard as sensitive or restricted. Attendees were urged to be mindful of the diversity within communities to prevent any single viewpoint from dominating cultural documentation.

Discussions throughout the day pointed to the central role played by communities, groups and individual practitioners in identifying and safeguarding their intangible cultural heritage. Participants noted that wider involvement helps preserve practices that continue to be taught, performed and valued across generations.

The workshop opened on Monday under the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs. Minister Jane Mkhonta Simelane told attendees that the initiative supports cultural preservation while contributing to tourism development and environmental sustainability. She said the training will help Eswatini and other State Parties prepare strong nomination files that meet the requirements of the 2003 Convention.