TZ processes the nomination of Khanga on the UNESCO World Heritage List 

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, in collaboration with stakeholders, has begun the process of listing the use of the khanga fabric on the national inventory of intangible cultural heritage, as a step toward its nomination for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The process began with a stakeholder workshop that brought together cultural experts from Tanzania Mainland and the Isles in Dar es Salaam, where, among many other things, they discussed the origins of khanga and its various cultural and social uses in the daily lives of Tanzanians.

ALSO READ: UNESCO approves Kiswahili as one of the official languages in its Conferences.

The workshop was opened by the Assistant Director in the Department of Culture Development at the Ministry, Dr Julieth Kabyemela, who listed khanga as part of Tanzania’s intangible cultural heritage.

The director noted that the move will help strengthen cooperation among nations in safeguarding intangible heritage and promote cultural tourism internationally.

The workshop brought together participants from various sectors, including experts from the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports in Zanzibar, the UNESCO Office in Dar es Salaam, university lecturers, civil society organizations, the private sector, community representatives, art associations, and institutions under the Ministry.