Banjul,3 August 2026: Since August 2025, the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has been coordinating the preparation of the nomination of Palm Wine Tapping to UNESCO’s 2003 Convention under the Urgent Safeguarding List.
According to the latest update, the Secretariat of the UNESCO 2003 Convention has acknowledged that all activities planned under the project have been implemented. The NCAC has also submitted the nomination dossier to UNESCO and is now awaiting a decision.
Officials of the National Centre for Arts and Culture said the palm tree is central to Gambian society, supporting livelihoods, cultural identity, health and community well-being.
Stakeholder consultations, community field visits and ongoing documentation through audio recordings, photographs, video and archival research have continued to inform the development of an inclusive safeguarding plan aimed at protecting and transmitting this living heritage.
“Safeguarding this practice is essential to preserving indigenous knowledge, strengthening community resilience and ensuring that future generations inherit the skills, values and cultural identity connected to palm wine tapping,” an NCAC official said.
Palm wine tapping is a traditional practice that involves extracting sap from palm trees using a handmade funnel after small openings are made in the tree’s bark with a cutlass or knife.
The importance of the palm tree to communities cannot be overstated. Beyond palm wine production, the tree provides a range of resources that contribute to household livelihoods and economic activity.
The cultivation of palm tree nurseries is also seen as an important measure for ensuring the continuity of palm wine tapping while supporting heritage preservation and livelihoods.
The fruit of the palm tree can also be processed into palm oil, providing women with opportunities for economic activity and income generation.
Meanwhile, Dakaah serves as an important social space where palm wine tappers and community members rest, gather and fellowship while enjoying palm wine. The space forms part of the social and cultural environment surrounding the practice.
The nomination of Palm Wine Tapping to UNESCO’s 2003 Convention would therefore represent an important step towards recognising and safeguarding a living tradition deeply rooted in Gambian communities.
Through collective responsibility, community participation and sustained safeguarding efforts, the initiative seeks to ensure that the knowledge, skills and cultural values associated with palm wine tapping continue to be transmitted to future generations while contributing to the preservation of The Gambia’s intangible cultural heritage.
Gambia News Agency
