Rumba joins UN list of 'intangible' heritage

01 December 2016 - 02:00 By Agency Staff

Cuba's sensual rumba dance and Belgium's thriving beer culture brought new effervescence to Unesco's coveted list of "intangible" heritage yesterday . Meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the UN body gave the nod to the rumba, which it said evoked "grace, sensuality and joy", while it said "making and appreciating beer is part of the living heritage ... throughout Belgium".The Cuban delegation to the meeting dedicated the rumba's selection to Fidel Castro, who died on Friday, aged 90.Unesco noted that Belgium produced 1500 types of beer, while in Cuba the rumba sprang from poor communities as an "expression of resistance and self-esteem".The list of "intangible" cultural treasures was created 10 years ago to increase awareness, while Unesco offers financial or technical support to countries struggling to protect them.Unesco designated Ugandan traditional music, which is dying out, as intangible heritage "in urgent need of safeguarding".- AFP..

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