By Yunus S Saliu
The National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has submitted a nomination file to UNESCO seeking recognition of palm wine tapping and associated skills as an element of Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of safeguarding.
The submission was made under the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. It aims to preserve what officials describe as a rapidly declining traditional occupation rooted in Gambian cultural life.
Speaking in Banjul, the Director General of the NCAC, Hassoum Ceesay, says the initiative seeks to ensure the protection of the centuries-old practice for future generations.
He says palm wine tapping goes beyond economic activity and reflects spiritual, cultural and technical knowledge. According to him, the practice involves specialised skills such as climbing palm trees, tapping techniques, and the making of tools including tapping belts and funnels.
“It is an ancestral occupation that is gradually dying out, and we believe it deserves to be safeguarded,” he said.
Ceesay noted that palm wine and its production processes remain significant in many Gambian communities and are used in traditional ceremonies such as libations and rites of passage.
He said the NCAC, with support from UNESCO, conducted nationwide consultations over several months in communities including Kabbekel, Kartong, Gunjur and Foni, as part of the nomination process.
According to him, practitioners and community members provided testimonies and recommendations on safeguarding measures during the consultations.
“We documented their knowledge and recorded the techniques involved, as well as their suggestions on how best to preserve the tradition,” he said.
Ceesay said the preparation of the nomination file took about nine months and involved palm wine tappers, cultural practitioners, forestry experts and researchers.
He added that historical research showed palm wine played a significant economic role, particularly during the colonial period, when large quantities were sold daily in Banjul in the 1930s and 1940s.
Ceesay expressed optimism that the nomination would receive a positive outcome and contribute to efforts to safeguard indigenous knowledge and traditional practices in The Gambia.