Our Legacy & Future
Safeguarding the living traditions that define Zimbabwe's cultural heartbeat.
A Zimbabwe where our living heritage is a celebrated source of national identity, cultural diversity, and sustainable development for all generations.
To safeguard and promote Zimbabwe's intangible cultural heritage through community-led documentation, education, and intergenerational knowledge transfer.
Our Core Values
Our foundation is built on the essence of Unhu/Ubuntu and the commitment to safeguarding our living history.
Cultural Preservation
Protecting and safeguarding traditional knowledge, customs, rituals, languages, performing arts and indigenous practices.
Ubuntu/Unhu
Promoting respect, humanity, solidarity and communal responsibility in preserving heritage.
Respect for Diversity
Recognising and valuing the diverse cultural traditions of all communities in Zimbabwe.
Community Participation
Ensuring that communities, traditional leaders and knowledge holders are at the centre of safeguarding efforts.
Integrity
Upholding authenticity and ethical management of cultural heritage.
Innovation & Sustainability
Adapting cultural practices to remain relevant while maintaining their significance.
Education
Promoting research, documentation, and intergenerational transfer of cultural skills.
National Identity
Strengthening Zimbabwean identity through the appreciation of living heritage.
Strategic Objectives of ICH
Our roadmap for safeguarding Zimbabwe's living heritage through focused, sustainable initiatives and community cooperation.
Identification
Identify and inventory intangible cultural heritage elements across all communities.
Documentation
Document and preserve indigenous knowledge systems through archival research.
Transmission
Promote the transmission of living heritage to younger generations to ensure continuity.
Community
Strengthen community participation as the central custodians in safeguarding heritage.
Awareness
Raise public awareness of Zimbabwe's living heritage through education and showcases.
Tourism & Research
Support research, education, and ethical cultural tourism initiatives nationwide.
Global Cooperation
Facilitate international cooperation through UNESCO programmes and regional partnerships to enhance safeguarding standards.
Zimbabwe & UNESCO
gavel The 2003 Convention
The UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is the primary international legal framework for protecting living heritage. It recognizes that ICH is a mainspring of cultural diversity and a guarantee of sustainable development.
Learn more at UNESCO ICH open_in_newflag Zimbabwe's Participation
Zimbabwe ratified the Convention in 2006, committing to identifying, documenting, and safeguarding its rich intangible traditions. Since then, the nation has been an active member of the Intergovernmental Committee, contributing to global heritage policy and regional capacity-building initiatives.
workspace_premium UNESCO-Listed Living Heritage
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Mbende Jerusarema Dance
Inscribed in 2008. A vibrant polyphonic dance of the Zezuru Shona people, characterized by acrobatic movements and rhythmic drumming that reinforces social cohesion.
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Art of crafting and playing Mbira
Inscribed in 2020. A sacred tradition involving the production and performance of the Mbira, acting as a spiritual bridge and a symbol of national identity.
How We Started
MOSRAC began as a grassroots response to the rapid disappearance of localized dialect songs and traditional craft techniques in 2013. A small group of researchers and community elders came together to form a digital refuge.
What started as a digital repository has grown into a national pillar for UNESCO-aligned safeguarding efforts, now covering all ten provinces of Zimbabwe.
A Journey Through Time
Milestones that shaped our path from a local initiative to a national heritage authority.
The Foundation
Official launch of the MOSRAC initiative with the first pilot project documenting pottery techniques in Mashonaland Central.
UNESCO Alignment
Achieved formal recognition as a consultative body for Intangible Cultural Heritage preservation frameworks.
Digital Expansion
Launched the national digital archive portal, providing open-access resources to schools and research institutions.
Heritage Hubs
Expansion into physical Heritage Innovation Hubs across all provincial capitals of Zimbabwe.
Nearing Full Coverage
Eight provinces have been successfully covered where a vast number of intangible cultural heritage has been collected. We are now left with only two provinces to reach the end of the journey.
Be Part of Our History
We are always looking for cultural practitioners, researchers, and volunteers to help expand our reach.