Cante Alentejano, the traditional polyphonic singing of Alentejo, mainland Portugal, was listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a special protected status by Unesco, the cultural arm of the United Nations.
The decision honoring Cante Alentejano was announced on Thursday by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meeting in Paris, France.
The initiative of submitting the Cante Alentejano to the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was led by the Confraria do Cante Alentejano, co-promoted by the Casa do Alentejo and the Associação Moda and supported by the President of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva; Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho.
Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art form originally created by African slaves, was also listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A combination of martial art, dance and sport, capoeira is performed to percussion and chanting.
- UNESCO: Cante Alentejano to become Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity – Portugal
- FADO: World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage – UNESCO