The Dominican government has requested Unesco, the United Nations cultural agency, inscribe cassava in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The procedures call for review and evaluation for the organization to decide whether or not the product will be declared as cultural heritage at the end of 2023.
The Dominican Republic filed the paperwork. Cuba, Venezuela, Honduras and Haiti joined also to declare this product as their cultural heritage. Listin Diario reports that the Dominican Republic is the leader of the nomination and will present the project to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), since it was the country that contacted the delegates of the other countries to carry out the nomination.
The Tainos that inhabited the Caribbean at the time of the arrival of the Spanish settlers used cassava bread as a staple food. The tubercule was cut into small pieces and the poisonous juice was extracted. The remaining thrash was made flatbread and baked in a griddle. The Spaniards would take the bread on their expeditions to discover the Americas, given that it did not mold as their traditional bread made from wheat.
The artisanal tradition of making cassava has been maintained and is especially strong in Monción, Santiago Rodríguez province, Santiago province and Puerto Plata. Women make up 90% of the cassava industry employment in this country.
After submitting the proposal, the organization will evaluate whether or not the product will be declared as cultural heritage at the end of the year.
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Listin Diario
13 February 2023