Attendance in the Inception Workshop for the Project “Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Basic Education in Botswana, Malawi, and Zambia”
2025/11/26
On 19th November 2025, Mr. Ominato, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan, attended the inception workshop for the Project “Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Basic Education in Botswana, Malawi, and Zambia” which is held by UNESCO in Lusaka.
This project aims to protect intangible cultural heritage, such as oral traditions, that are at risk of disappearing in Southern African countries by incorporating them into educational curriculum.
The project is being implemented by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with a grant of approximately $300,000 (about 45 million yen) from the Government of Japan.
The kick-off workshop was attended by numerous participants, including government officials such as the Director of Curriculum Development Centre from Zambia's Ministry of Education, teachers from pilot schools, and UNESCO representatives.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ominato referenced the African proverb “When an elder dies, a library burns,” emphasizing how this proverb highlights the significant role of intangible cultural heritage plays in Africa, and the urgent need for intangible cultural heritage protection measures. He also expressed hope that this project would further deepen the relationship between Japan and Zambia and encouraged active participation from all stakeholders.
To read the speech by Mr. Ominato, please click here.
This project aims to protect intangible cultural heritage, such as oral traditions, that are at risk of disappearing in Southern African countries by incorporating them into educational curriculum.
The project is being implemented by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with a grant of approximately $300,000 (about 45 million yen) from the Government of Japan.
The kick-off workshop was attended by numerous participants, including government officials such as the Director of Curriculum Development Centre from Zambia's Ministry of Education, teachers from pilot schools, and UNESCO representatives.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ominato referenced the African proverb “When an elder dies, a library burns,” emphasizing how this proverb highlights the significant role of intangible cultural heritage plays in Africa, and the urgent need for intangible cultural heritage protection measures. He also expressed hope that this project would further deepen the relationship between Japan and Zambia and encouraged active participation from all stakeholders.
To read the speech by Mr. Ominato, please click here.