We are pleased to announce that Professor Pavlos Kavouras, Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Anthropology of Traditional Music, recently paid an official visit to the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Athens, where he was warmly received by Ambassador Ayo Luther-Ogbomode, Chargé d’Affaires ai.

This diplomatic engagement represents a significant step in advancing our UNESCO Chair’s mandate focused on Sub-Saharan Africa. The meeting with Ambassador Luther-Ogbomode centered on productive discussions about potential collaborative initiatives and the promotion of the Chair’s objectives in preserving and celebrating traditional music as living heritage.

Significance for Our UNESCO Chair

This engagement directly supports our Chair’s core mission in Africa, which aims to:

• Promote sustainable approaches to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage
• Build diplomatic bridges that enhance mutual understanding of diverse musical traditions
• Foster cultural exchange and dialogue between Greece and African nations through the medium of traditional music

During the visit, Professor Kavouras and Ambassador Luther-Ogbomode explored opportunities for academic and cultural cooperation between Greek institutions and Nigerian cultural organizations. The discussion emphasized the importance of safeguarding and promoting traditional music as a vital component of intangible cultural heritage. Their dialogue highlighted the role of traditional music as a means for self-awareness and embodying Ubuntu – the African philosophical concept of interconnectedness and shared humanity that recognizes “I am because we are.” This core African philosophical principle celebrate how musical traditions can strengthen collective identity while honoring individual cultural expressions.

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has shown keen interest in supporting initiatives that align with our Chair’s objectives, particularly those that strengthen cultural ties between Greece and Nigeria through musical heritage appreciation and research.

We look forward to developing these diplomatic connections into concrete projects that advance our mission of representing and repositioning intangible cultural heritage through the anthropology of traditional music.