Cuba's rumba dance, Belgian beer listed among UNESCO's 'intangibles'

The United Nations' cultural organisation (UNESCO) on Wednesday added Belgian beer and Cuban sensual rumba dance in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during the annual Committee meeting celebrated in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The intergovernmental committee of the UN body said it considered the Cuban rumba dance to be an expression of confidence and resistance that contributed to the formation of a national identity adding that it evokes "grace, sensuality and joy."

The Cuban delegation at the event, dedicated the award to former revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro, who died on Friday last week at the age of 90.

The body also agreed to protect Belgian beer as an alcoholic tradition, which extends to those who create, enjoy and promote the artisan production of the drink while it said "making and appreciating beer is part of the living heritage throughout Belgium". 

The body noted that Belgium produces about 1,500 types of beer, while in Cuba because the rumba originated from poor communities the dance represents an enduring "expression of resistance and self-esteem". 

Other intangible heritage included in this year's list are the Mangal Shobhajatra festival celebrated in an art school in Bangladesh's April 14 new year's festival, the ancient Chinese 24 solar terms used to divide the year, and the two-week-long celebrations and rituals associated with Nowruz, known as the Persian New Year, celebrated across central and western Asia and the March 21 new year's celebrations of 12 countries stretching from Turkey to India.

UNESCO created the list of "intangible" cultural treasures 10 years ago, particularly to increase awareness about them, while UNESCO sometimes offers financial or technical assistance to countries struggling to protect them.