The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) congratulated the State on its first inscription, recognising its “perseverance and commitment in completing the application process”, a journey that began in 2015.
According to the documentation available on the organisation’s website, new studies were launched in 2023, after the loss of documentation, to support the application process, culminating in the inclusion of Tchiloli in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2024.
Tchiloli, a popular theatre that dates back to the tragedy of D. Carloto, is performed in an open space during festivals or public events, and involves actors, musicians and audience participation.
“The story [of Tchiloli] revolves around a murder trial and involves about thirty actors. These actors represent different roles in the judicial system: the victim’s family, the emperor and his court, and various legal and public figures,” reads the documentation, with the main scene being “a public trial where the emperor’s son is accused of the crime,” “illustrating the value of equality before the law.”
With a view to protecting and promoting this cultural practice, UNESCO proposes safeguarding measures to be implemented by the Tchiloli Network with technical, financial and logistical support from the Sao Tome government, such as the organisation of competitions and events, the dissemination of materials in theatre, the transmission of knowledge and skills related to the practice, with a focus on training young people, the expansion of the Tchiloli Network, and the creation of resource centres, a living museum and scientific symposiums on Tchiloli.
Xigubo, a warrior dance traditionally practised in southern Mozambique, which was also a candidate for the UNESCO list, was not inscribed because the organisation considered that “the information included in the dossier is not sufficient” to enable the Committee to determine the criteria for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
