Paraguayan President Santiago Peña and the First Lady, Leticia Ocampos, announced through a video released on social media that the Ñai’ũpo have been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is part of the UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. In the message, both highlight the country’s responsibility to protect and transmit this knowledge.
Ñai’ũpo is a traditional Paraguayan ceramic craftsmanship technique practiced by artisan women, involving hand-molding clay sourced from local wetlands without a potter’s wheel to create functional pottery such as jugs.
“Clay of our land”
In the announcement, the First Lady described the Paraguayan Ñai’ũpo as “the clay of our land, shaped thanks to the knowledge of our craftswomen.” President Peña emphasised that the Ñai’ũpo “is a living expression of Paraguayan identity, preserved thanks to the dedication of generations of women.”
Both stressed the importance of strengthening safeguarding efforts to ensure that this tradition continues to inspire new generations.
What is Ñai’ũpo?
The Ñai’ũpo was assessed within the traditional crafts category by UNESCO. Moreover, the Ñai’ũpo got the recognition that it is a vulnerable technique requiring urgent protection measures. This is due to the decline in practitioners and the socio-economic changes that affect its transmission.
Paraguay’s submission highlights that the Ñai’ũpo encompasses not only a hand-moulding technique using clay without a potter’s wheel. This is also a body of knowledge, community practices, symbolism, and connections with the natural environment.
Its transmission has historically rested in the hands of women artisans from communities such as Itá and Tobatí. These women continue working with clay using methods handed down from their mothers and grandmothers.
UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee
The decision was adopted at the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. This international conference is currently taking place in New Delhi, India. Dossiers from various countries are being evaluated for inclusion on the international lists.
With this inscription, the Ñai’ũpo joins the list of Paraguayan cultural expressions recognised by UNESCO. The country assumes the commitment to implement safeguarding plans that include training programs and incentives for craft production. Additionally, it includes documentation of the process, and actions to strengthen intergenerational transmission.
The decision of the Intergovernmental Committee grants Paraguay an international platform to showcase the richness of its living heritage. Furthermore, it reaffirms the role of artisan communities as guardians of a legacy that is now part of humanity’s cultural heritage.
Read more: Paraguay And UNESCO Promote Heritage Protection With New Virtual Museum Project.
