Paper short abstract:

Noticing the international popularity of the 2003 Unesco Convention, the anthropologist underline its real consequences on local scene. In this perspective, can this Convention and its consequences on local practices be considered to be a tool to better understand political and cultural tensions within society?

Paper long abstract:

In 2003, following their desire "to preserve the world's cultural diversity in a constantly changing international environment", the General Conference of Unesco adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), which as of today, has been ratified by 137 Nation-States.

Indeed, noticing the international popularity of such an agreement, the stakes and the consequences of this Convention on local scene are real. What effect does this Convention have on the local sphere and what do these local actions tell about the society in which they are practiced? Can this Convention and its consequences be considered to be a tool to better understand political and cultural tensions within society?

To answer these questions, first of all I will draw upon my experiences from an internship within the ICH office to answer these questions. I will focus my analysis on the internal negotiations exercised by Unesco to register a cultural practice on the representative list of the ICH. This will allow me to compare the speeches with the practices exercised by the organization and to understand the tension of such a global society as Unesco. Subsequently, I will concentrate on the impact of these global actions on local communities in Guadeloupe with the Gwoka practice and in La Réunion with the Maloya to better understand the utilization of the Convention by local actors.