UNESCO Acknowledges Casabe as Cultural Heritage of Humanity

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has officially recognized the traditional knowledge and practices involved in the making and consumption of casabe, a type of flatbread, by adding it to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This announcement, made on Wednesday, highlights the casabe's importance as a symbol of identity and social cohesion within Caribbean communities.

This recognition came after a joint proposal by the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti, Honduras, and Venezuela, during the nineteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held at UNESCO's headquarters, as reported by Prensa Latina.

Casabe, a round bread made from bitter cassava—a tuber known for its unique potential in human nutrition—serves as a cultural cornerstone that intertwines indigenous and African roots. It is a tradition passed down in both homes and educational settings.

The Cultural and Social Significance of Casabe

According to UNESCO, this practice encourages values such as tolerance, mutual respect, and unity. It also plays a crucial role in contributing to food security and economic sustenance for thousands of families in the region. Beyond its cultural importance, the recognition underscores casabe's role in fostering peace and dialogue among communities, cementing its status as a vital component of Caribbean cultural identity.

In Cuba, as detailed in a UNESCO statement cited by Prensa Latina, local farmers are the primary bearers of the casabe tradition, acting as community producers. In contrast, in Haiti, casabe is deeply embedded in family life across both urban and rural settings.

Regional Variations and Contributions

In the Dominican Republic, farmers preserve traditional production methods while infusing them with creativity. Venezuela exhibits distinct characteristics, as the casabe production organization varies from community to community. The casabe serves as a cultural touchstone in these communities, playing a significant symbolic role that emotionally connects consumers and producers with their memories and places of origin, as the UNESCO Regional Office in Havana concluded in its statement.

In 2023, the Cuban government sought UNESCO's acknowledgment of casabe as Intangible Cultural Heritage, with national experts participating in preparing the first multinational dossier of this kind in Latin America. The Cuban government, facing a wheat flour shortage, has been advocating for casabe consumption as an alternative. It joined the Dominican Republic's initiative to prepare and present the multinational dossier on traditional casabe production and consumption to UNESCO.