Grenada’s traditional wooden boatbuilding in Intangible Cultural Heritage List 

Grenada: United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) added traditional wooden boatbuilding in Carriacou and Petite Martinique of Grenada as one of 23 elements in the Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

In the list, unique practices across the globe are added which connect to the living heritage.

Traditional Wooden Boatbuilding

This is an old tradition performed in the Grenada Islands. The country has boat building communities and the people from this community (men, women and children) have their own duties and contributions towards the completion of tasks.

Moreover, it has also been heard that this activity is to be performed during the right phase of the moon. This tradition is followed by the citizens as per the guidance provided by the elders of the citizens.

Interestingly, the ritual states that the working can not be started until rum and water have been sprinkled on the keel and stem. Further, as it gets completed, the boat is given a traditional blessing.

Further, the name ceremony is also conducted on its behalf and the designated godfathers are asked to give it a name which is then designed with embroidery on a red flag to place on the deck of the boat.

As a part of celebration at the launch ceremony, the feminine gender cooks traditional food as well. And, it  even allows the transmission of knowledge and skills while performing the tasks in boatbuilding.

Probing ahead, many other practices from other parts of the world are involved in this list by UNESCO. Few of which are as follows:

• Ceramic Arts in Uzbekistan
• Garba of Gujarat in India
• Practice of Opera singing in Italy
• A famous poetic and musical art, Malhun in Morocco

Next, Midwifery: knowledge, skills and practices which is performed in various regions that are, Tago, Germany, Cyprus, Nigeria, Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, Slovenia and Luxembourg as well is included in this list.

Other practices involved in list are as follows:

• Maltese Village Festa of Malta
• Songkran and Thai New Year Festival
• Mahadra of Mauritania

Many others are also part of this list.