2024-02-07 14:34:42
With the creation of four new cultural protection agencies decided by the Council of Ministers on January 31, 2024, Benin has the ambition to better promote its intangible cultural heritage. The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts provided clarifications on Tuesday February 6 in Cotonou.
One more step for Benin in its dynamic of promoting its cultural riches. The four agencies spread across different sociocultural areas should function as a public establishment of a social and scientific nature. However, they “do not have physical territories of jurisdiction”.
This cultural policy of Benin would like these different establishments to ensure the safeguarding of the constituent elements of intangible cultural heritage and their promotion. These agencies must also work “to the appropriation and development of intangible cultural heritage among young people, and particularly in educational environments”.
Thus, each agency identifies and makes “the inventory of elements of intangible cultural heritage (ICP)” of its socio-cultural space of competence. The intangible cultural assets to be identified constitute assets “for tourism development” according to Jean-Michel Abimbola, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. It is also up to them to contribute to the implementation of actions within the framework of the preparation of files for their inscription on the list of world heritage sites, assures Jean-Michel Abimbola.
This commitment from the public authorities is a part of the vast cultural program implemented since 2016. The Beninese executive is keen to improve the tourism offer and the resulting economy through various initiatives.
Read also => Benin: creation of 4 agencies to safeguard cultural riches
=> Benin: towards the creation of a Vodoun Arts Festival
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