The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has inscribed Botswana’s Wosana ritual and associated practices on its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage List in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Wosana is a rainmaking ritual that is observed by the Bakalanga community in the Northeast and Central Districts of Botswana. It is characterized by rituals, prayer, feasts, song and dance.
It is a collaborative practice involving traditional leadership, distinct roles, and the participation of the entire community. The related knowledge and skills are transmitted through observation and mentoring, with new practitioners being sworn to secrecy regarding the sacred aspects of the practice.
An opening ceremony was on Sunday, 1 December 2024. The session is chaired by H.E. Ms Nancy Ovelar de Gorostiaga, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Paraguay to UNESCO.
