Unesco declares Dancing Devils world intangible cultural heritage

During a meeting early Thursday in the head offices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage added the Corpus Christi Dancing Devils to the list of World Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Venezuelan Vice-Ministry of Identity and Cultural Diversity Benito Irady said minutes later at the hall where the decision was made that the action highlights one of the most significant expressions in Venezuela with a five-century history.

"From the 17th to the 21st century make five cycles of continued transmission from one to another generation of an exceptional event in several towns of Venezuela. Sure enough, we are reasserting with this decision at Unesco how significant is for us, Venezuelans, such status of multi-ethnical and pluri-cultural society as defined in our Constitution," he said.

Wearing the traditional masks and playing maracas, a representation exhibited its dance at the hall where the Committee made the decision.

For his part, Venezuelan Minister of Culture Pedro Calzadilla told state-run TV channel VTV that the country deserved the inclusion in the list, "not only for being world recognition, but also as a tribute by and to the people."