Belize’s Christmas tradition of the annual “Krismos Bram and Sambai” of Gales Point “Malanti” Village was officially categorized as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” on the list compiled by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which was adopted at the 20th session of UNESCO’s intergovernmental committee in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday, December 9.
This is the 2nd portion of Belizean culture to be placed on UNESCO’s list, after the recognition of the Garifuna language, music and dance in 2001.
Master drummer Emmeth Young and expert dancer Sharlene Andrewin, both of Gales Point Manatee, performed the Bram and Sambai dance before the UNESCO committee as part of a national and community-based effort to safeguard and celebrate our living heritage. Arreini Palacio-Morgan, secretary-general of the National UNESCO Commission of Belize, accompanied the artists, along with director Rolando Cocom and living heritage officer April Martinez, both of the Institute for Social and Cultural Research and the National Institute of Culture and History (ISCR-NICH), and Selene Solis of the National Kriol Council.
