Intangible artefacts

Dieter Offenhäusser is spokesperson and deputy general secretary at Germany's UNESCO Commission.

Deutsche Welle: Fado has recently been placed on UNESCO's Intangible Heritage List. It's a popular Portuguese music genre with a sad, longing sound that often takes up the theme of lovesickness. What's the point of the list?

Dieter Offenhäusser: First of all, it raises public attention. The second desired effect is that measures will be taken to preserve the designated traditions and ensure their survival.

Is Fado in need of these measures?

That's a point of significant debate. In Portugal, people are very proud to be recognized by an international organization. But Fado wasn't necessarily in need of help. Not only is the style of performance anchored in the circles in which it's sung, but it's also used commercially. There are many other things out there that are perhaps more in need of UNESCO's protection.



Recently, the UNESCO list has included traditions that are far less popular, like a wisdom ritual in Mali that is scarcely known abroad. How are decisions made when it comes to conventions and traditions that have almost no international reputation?

Well, cases like that are exactly the point. Another example: Along the border between Peru and Ecuador, there's a tribe whose language existed as far back as when Columbus came to America. There are only five people remaining there who can speak this ancient language. In it, the collected wisdom of the Amazons is preserved - their knowledge about health, the climate and nature. There's a danger there that can only be combated by way of international solidarity and through the recognition that UNESCO can offer.

The awareness will certainly remain for a long time, but can that translate into more than a symbolic act? Even UNESCO cannot rescue a language when there are only five speakers remaining.

That's also not at all the point. It's not about making everything into museum material or maintaining traditions artificially by keeping them on life support. Nevertheless, people should try to preserve and document the knowledge that is housed in such languages. It's also about those of us in Germany, for example, asking ourselves what the meaning of this traditional practice or costume was, whether it was worn by those in Laos or by the Sorbs in eastern Germany.

As a sign of esteem and respect for a culture?

That's precisely the point - that people become aware of the cultural diversity on our planet. There's much to discover. What surprises even us at UNESCO is the level of acceptance and the worldwide push to get on the list. But that's also bound up with risks.

Risks such as the danger that the list would have to be expanded ad infinitum if every custom and every local festival were placed under protection? How can meaningful criteria be established?

That is very difficult. Personally, I'm not sure that UNESCO is really in control of the situation in light of the 230 entries that have been added in just the last few years. The first danger is that it gets inflationary.

Another problem is that people use the designation as a marketing instrument for tourism, ignoring the original intentions of the program. In Laos, for instance, there are dance groups near the royal court that gave a very specific dance involving traditional rites once every year or sometimes even once in their lifetimes. Now, you can watch the dance every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from six to eight p.m. in your hotel. Afterwards, the dancers put their jeans back on and drive home.

So that means that as soon as UNESCO puts its sticker of approval on something, it gets popularized and, in a sense, loses its value?

At the moment, there's a tendency in that direction. And it exists all across the world, even though it's the exact opposite of what UNESCO really wants to achieve, which is that living traditions will be passed from generation to generation.



How can one best go about that?

UNESCO can mobilize international bodies of experts who can keep a watchful eye on such traditions and ensure favorable political conditions for them. They can help make sure that states pursue policies aiming to preserve intangible elements of culture and minority traditions. But it's important not to underestimate the economic pressure that exists to use such manifestations purely to draw tourists.

Interview: Aya Bach / gsw
Editor: Kate Bowen