Singing tradition of Finnish Roma people included in the National Inventory of Living Heritage in Finland
The Ministry of Education and Culture has nominated 52 elements for inclusion in the National Inventory of Living Heritage. The National Inventory will be updated regularly, and the next opportunity to submit applications will be in 2019 at the earliest. It is possible for elements in the National Inventory to be later nominated for inclusion in UNESCO's international lists of intangible cultural heritage. Singing tradition of Finnish Roma people is one of the new elements for inclusion in the National Inventory of Living Heritage
The songs of Finnish Roma people are oral, living traditions of the Roma population. The core of Roma songs and singing are the Roma home and family – even when the methods and forums of performing the traditional songs have become more varied. Even though singing the songs may have been a way to make a living, they have always primarily been about maintaining one’s own identity and a mental tool for surviving life’s various situations. New songs, singing styles and the cultural meanings of the songs are still learnt by ear and by heart within the home and family. Skilled singers that pass the tradition on and create new ones are valued to this day.
Read more about the singing tradition of Finnish Roma people here.For more information, please contact:
Leena
Marsio, National Board of Antiquities, leena.marsio(a)museovirasto.fi, tel.
+358 (0)295 33 6017
Mirva Mattila, Ministry of Education and Culture, mirva.mattila(a)minedu.fi,
tel. +358 (0)295 33 0269
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