Following directives from UNESCO that nations establish a system of Living Human Treasures in their countries, the UNESCO representative in Nigeria submitted a proposal to UNESCO Paris headquarters, soliciting for approval and funding for the system to be established in Nigeria. Through the intervention of the UNESCO Headquarters, the Norwegian government agreed to sponsor the programme as an extrabudgetary activity.

The process of establishing the system in Nigeria commenced in 2004 and is expected to be fully institutionalised by May 2006. The purpose of establishing the system in Nigeria is to institutionalise the safeguarding and perpetuation of the intangible cultural heritage through a mechanism that will formally recognise, support, identify persons and preserve know-how, skills and techniques by custodians and practitioners to the younger generation.

It will ensure the continuous transmission of traditional knowledge and know-how from generation to generation. Persons that possess such skills and techniques will be recognised and brought to national and international awareness.

The awardees/nominees will be posted on the internet for easy access and an award/proclamation ceremony will be performed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in their honour.

LEGAL MEASURES

Nigeria has ratified the convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage. The Plan of Operation for the Living Human Treasures was also signed in August 2005 by the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism and UNESCO. This document formally ratifies the project and gives it the impetus for implementation.

Based on these, the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism set up a National Committee on the Intangible Cultural Heritage. This committee is vested with the administration of the living human treasures in Nigeria. However, the national organ has also set up an advisory committee who is charged with the responsibility of drawing up the logistics for the day-to-day implementation of the programme. The committee will, in the long run, initiate the promulgation of a legislative act for the continuity and sustainability of the system.

WHO ARE THE NATIONAL LIVING TREASURES?

National Living Treasures are Nigerians above 50 years of age who possess to a large degree, skills and techniques linked to specific forms of the intangible cultural heritage. They are Nigerians who are crucial to the perpetuation of these skills and willing to pass these skills down to the next generation of crafts people.

DOMAINS OF THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Going by the criteria set up by the national committee on the intangible cultural heritage committee, the domains to be focused on are:

• Oral traditions and expressions including language as a vehicle for the transmission e.g. poets, writers, folklore, bards, custodians of historical events, traditional historic poets, praise singerS
• Performing arts e.g. jesters, musicians, actors, comedians, traditional historic poets, praise singers, drama, ritualists, masqueraders
• Social practices, rituals and festive events e.g. custodians of deity worship, performers of initiations, cleansing rituals, the technique of masquerading, divination
• Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe e.g. traditional medicine practitioners, shrines and ritual custodians
• Traditional craftsmanship e.g. weaving (raffia, looms, reeds, etc), carving/sculpture (using terracotta, stone, wood, ivory, metal and sticks), pottery (for domestic, ritual and musical uses), dyeing and printing (on paper, walls, or fabric).

RESPONSIBLE BODY IN CHARGE OF THE SYSTEM

The system is overseen by the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism; the official government organ responsible for all cultural matters in Nigeria. The ministry has set up a National Committee on the Intangible Cultural Heritage charged with the responsibility of advising the Nigerian government on ways and means of implementing the articles of the convention on intangible heritage at the national level. The committee is comprised of culture administrators, cultural experts, stakeholder in the culture sector as well as the academia.

The National Committee has in turn set up a six-man advisory committee, selected from the national committee to:

• aggregate and articulate a representative data from where a national registry of Living Human Treasures can be established;
• recommend for validation based on certain objective criteria, a specific number of Living Human Treasures representative of the different domains;
• draw up a well formulated explanatory document to be translated into a brochure.

The advisory committee will report to the established committee on all matters regarding the establishment of the Living Human Treasures project.

SELECTION PROCESS

Nominees from the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory will be sent in to the committee. Individuals could also make nominations. The nominees will be tabulated and members of the advisory committee will visit various parts of the country to validate and authenticate the nominees. The validated list will then be sent to the national committee for final approval and selection.

Additional nominations may come from the advisory committee and cultural experts. The names of the awardees approved by the national committee are then sent to the Minister for onward transmission to the President for proclamation.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The selection of awardees will be based on a variety of cultural expressions, and the following factors will be taken into consideration.

• They must be excellent in their field, possessing a wealth of knowledge and mastery in the application of their arts.
• They must be persons dedicated to professionalism and have over the years produced/performed and adhered to set standards and work ethics
• They should be persons who are committed to the arts and traditional practices and have been consistent in their work.
• They must be persons or a group with the ability and the willingness to further develop their knowledge and skills and are ready to apply new ideas and try out new skills.
• They must possess the ability to pass on their knowledge and skills through formal; and informal training programmes/apprenticeship.
• They must possess sacrificial attributes i.e. they are willing and ready to confront and withstand challenges and hazards in their domain if the need arises.
• The person must be over 50 years of age; possessing skills in danger of disappearing.

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE NATIONAL LIVING TREASURES:

The Living Human Treasures would be accorded national and international recognition and as a follow up to the above;

• A website has been created for the project where nominees and awardees will be posted.
• An official award/proclamation ceremony performed by the Head of state is being planned.
• Grants will be given to the awardees as a form of incentive and encouragement.
• Exhibition of works/performances will be organised for the masters from time to time.
• A formal school and other venues where masters can gather o transmit their skills and knowledge to the apprentices and interested persons, is in the offing. The logistics are being worked out by the national committee.
• Training workshops and seminars would be organised for nominees/awardees on a regular basis by the national committee.

INFORMATION ON EXISTING NATIONAL LIVING TREASURES:

Data is being collected and the selection process has reached an advanced stage. The existing website is being upgraded to accommodate current information and recent developments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
a)   The Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism
      Federal Secretariat Phase 2
      Bulet Building
      Shehu Shagari Way
      Abuja – Nigeria

b)   The Secretariat
      National Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage
      c/o External Culture Relations Department
      Federal Secretariat Phase 2
      Shehu Shagari Way
      Abuja – Nigeria

c)   The Culture Sector
      UNESCO
      United Nations Building
      Plot 617/618 Diplomatic Drive
      P O Box 424
      Garki
      Abuja – Nigeria

d)   Website: www.livinghumantreasures.org.ng