Grenada’s traditional wooden boatbuilding in Intangible Cultural Heritage List
UNESCO added traditional wooden boatbuilding in Carriacou and Petite Martinique of Grenada as one of 23 elements in the Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
7th of December 2023

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.
Latest
- Grenada’s national youth parliamentarians take oath, vow to bring real change
-
St. Kitts and Nevis PM Terrance Drew meets Christian Brown of McIlhenny Company which owns Tabasco -
New Cruise Terminal at Antigua's Fifth Berth to transform visitor experience and boost economy -
Tobago to welcome over 13,000 cruise passengers in March 2025 -
Antigua and Barbuda records 34,313 air passengers in January 2025, marking 11.8% increase
Related Articles


29th of November 2024

22nd of November 2024

22nd of November 2024

25th of November 2024

19th of November 2024

24th of November 2024

18th of November 2024