In search of the conditions to sustain intangible cultural heritages of Africa.

自1995年以来，我们在“声音文化”的概念下，在非洲的几个地区进行了人类学实地研究，其中包括口头文学，以及伴随着声乐或器乐声音的舞蹈。从联合国教科文组织的角度来看，这些表演艺术只不过是处于危机中的非物质文化遗产。2009年至2011年期间，我们项目的六名成员在非洲西部地区（布基纳法索、贝宁和科特迪瓦）以及东部地区（埃塞俄比亚、坦桑尼亚和赞比亚）进行了实地研究，研究了几种健全文化或非物质文化遗产的生存状况，以及与传承这些文化遗产的当地社区的关系。从联合国教科文组织的角度来看，在当地社区中实际发挥的生动作用是正式承认其为非物质文化遗产的必要条件，仅具有文化或历史价值是不够的。非物质文化遗产对当地社区的意义、研究者的观点与国际有机体所需的条件之间的关系，不仅是需要研究的问题，也是需要解决的问题。

Since 1995, we have conducted anthropological field research in several areas of Africa, under the concept of"sound culture", which includes the oral literature, as well as the dance accompanied with vocal or instrumental sound. These performing arts are, from the viewpoint of UNESCO, nothing but the intangible cultural heritages in crisis. Six members of our project have conducted their field researches, during the period between 2009 and 2011, in western parts of Africa-Burkina Faso, Benin and Ivory Coast-, as well as in its eastern parts-Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia, on the survival conditions of several sound cultures, or intangible cultural heritages, in relation to the local community which sustain them. From the standpoint of UNESCO, the actual vivid function in the local community is the necessary condition to recognize it officially as an intangible cultural heritage to be protected, and its cultural or historical value alone is not sufficient. The relationship between the significance of an intangible cultural heritage for the local community, the viewpoint of the researcher, and the conditions required by the international organism, is the question not only to be studied, but also to be resolved.