TANZANIANS have been urged to embrace intangible cultural heritage to preserve traditional knowledge, particularly in food preservation and sustain communities during natural disasters.

Sumbawanga Municipal Council Mayor, Justine Malisawa, made the call on Wednesday while officiating at a one-day dialogue focused on developing guidelines for enacting by-laws to safeguard intangible cultural heritage.

Intangible cultural heritage refers to the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, and skills that a community recognizes as part of their cultural heritage, including things like oral traditions, performing arts, social rituals, festive events, and traditional craftsmanship, which are not physical objects but rather living traditions passed down through generations; essentially, the non-material aspects of a culture that are considered important to its identity.

The initiative aims to promote and preserve traditional practices in the district while creating employment opportunities for youth and women.

Malisawa emphasised the importance of reviving traditional food preservation methods, which he noted contributed to healthier and longer lives in the past.

"In the past, we could rely on preserved maize cobs and green vegetables even during droughts. However, this knowledge is gone because it had not   passed on to the younger generation. Developing the guidelines and by-laws   timely will be crucial for us all,’’ he said.

Advocate Philomena Mwalongo,   legal consultant with the Tanzania Media for Community Development (TAMCODE) highlighted the need for specific laws to recognise traditional leaders and address cultural issues.

"There is   need for museums to focus on our native historical backgrounds rather than external narratives. Traditional languages are also under threat, with many youth unable to speak them, let alone practice traditional food preservation methods. We must protect, preserve, and promote intangible cultural heritage to foster employment opportunities for women and youth," he said.

Sumbawanga District Legal Officer, Mathew Madama, praised the initiative, stating that it would help protect traditional songs, which are often appropriated by artists with minimal benefits for the original inventors.

"Once the by-law is in place, it will enable us to protect intellectual property for the benefit of local communities," he said.

TAMCODE, in collaboration with the UNESCO-Alwaleed Philanthropies project engages by-law makers in Sumbawanga District,   Rukwa Region and Mpanda District in Katavi Region from January 29 to February 4, 2025.

The initiative aims to develop guidelines for enacting by-laws that advocate for intangible cultural heritage preservation while fostering employment opportunities for the youth and women.

The project, titled Crafting Change: Fostering Community-Based Development through Culture-Related Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Employment, seeks to promote economic opportunities while preserving Tanzania's rich cultural heritage.

The initiative is part of   broader three-year partnership between UNESCO and Alwaleed Philanthropies, aligned with the global Framework for Culture and Arts Education. The framework emphasises the role of arts and culture to drive sustainable development, promoting ethical innovation, and fostering creativity, critical thinking, lifelong learning, and professional growth.

Alwaleed Philanthropies, led by H.R.H. Princess Lamia bint Majed Al Saud, partners with philanthropic, governmental, and educational organisations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, support community livelihoods, provide disaster relief and foster intercultural understanding.