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Efforts underway to nominate Taita Mwazindika Spirit Dance to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in Urgent Need of Safeguarding
From November 23-24, 2023, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa supported the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO in organising a workshop aimed at preparing a nomination of the Mwazindika Spiritual Dance鈥攄eemed in urgent need for safeguarding鈥攖o the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list. Held at the Cooperative University in Karen, Nairobi, the event gathered 35 Kenyan participants, including ICH experts, academicians, government officials, and representatives from the Dawida community.
Earlier, representatives from the ICH Kenya National Team and other stakeholders had visited Taita Taveta county in preparation for the workshop. The field visit allowed experts to immerse themselves among the practice these ancient rituals and witness first-hand the spiritual dance rituals that have woven themselves into the fabric of Taita's identity.
Preserving our heritage is a pledge to our roots and a worthy investment in preserving the vitality of our cultural identity. To the Dawida Community, the Mwazindika is a connection to their past; it鈥檚 a living, breathing testimony of their resilience and spirit.
A dozen representatives from the Dawida community participated in the Nairobi workshop and shared with participants the intricacies of the Mwazindika spiritual rituals. The dance contains five key elements: beating drums, dance movements, rhythmic songs and percussive instruments, whistles, and ululations. These come together within the dance to exorcise bad spirits, alleviate stress, and dispel looming dark omens from the community members. Mwazindika is thus a carefully orchestrated process of healing for both individual and societal ailments. Complementing the drumbeats is the traditional brew known as 'Chofi,' which is drunk before and during the ritual activation and typically initiates participants into a trance.
Rooted in century-old traditions and full of nuanced rituals, this dance contains intricate details well-known only to the community. However, although the Mwazindika has long been a cornerstone of Dawida culture, today fewer and fewer community members are mastering this cultural and spiritual practice. This calls for urgency to safeguard and preserve the cultural heritage practice.
While the workshop and mission provided a wealth of details on the Mwazindika Spiritual Dance, the journey toward completing the nomination file for this unique ritual is still unfolding.
The UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) promotes the preservation and protection of ICH as an important factor maintaining cultural diversity in the face of growing globalization. It also helps with intercultural dialogue and encourages mutual respect for other ways of life.
