Unesco adds yoga, rumba to heritage list
ADDIS ABABA: The ancient Indian philosophy behind yoga, the mindbody discipline practised the world over, Cuba’s sensual rumba dance and Belgium’s thriving beer culture have been added to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (Unesco) list of “intangible” heritage.
“Designed to help individuals build self-realisation, ease any suffering they may be experiencing and allow for a state of liberation, (yoga) is practised by the young and old without discriminating against gender, class or religion,” Unesco said.
The 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”, which has more than 1,500 types.
The Cuban delegation to the Unesco talks here dedicated the rumba’s selection to long-time leader Fidel Castro, who died on Friday aged 90.
Unesco said the rumba sprang from poor communities where the dance was an enduring “expression of resistance and self-esteem”.
to its list of ‘intangible’ heritage.
Belgium, meanwhile, toasted the recognition, with French-speaking Culture Minister Alda Greoli noting that the country’s beer culture “has been handed down from generation
in Havana, Cuba. Unesco has added rumba to generation since time immemorial”. Belgian beer’s “communal identity resulted in... an explosion of artisanal creativity and love for the brewing craft”, she said.
Her Dutch-speaking counterpart Sven Gatz said Belgium had won “the world cup of beer culture”, calling the nomination a “nice reward for everyone who works in the sector”. AFP