The meeting on the theme “Heritage Cultural, common commitment to identify, preserve, revitalize and pass on to the generations future an asset of cultural, material and immaterial”, held in the Hall Councilor of the Municipality of Noci, was, without a doubt, the event of tip of the project “Cammini e Meetings for a welcoming Puglia, resilient and historically oriented to intercultural dialogue”, promoted and organized by the FITP and co-financed from the Puglia Region a rely on the Special Culture Fund e Cultural heritage pursuant to art. 15 Regional Law 40/2016. The important initiative he saw the participation of 21 countries representing the maxims interested global organizations of folklore and transpositions scenes of popular traditions, namely: World Folklore Union I.G.F. – International Organization Of Folk Art I.O.V. – World Association Of Performing Arts W.A.P.A. – Federation Of International Dance Festivals F.I.D.A.F., as well as of course the Italian Federation of Traditions Popular, had the merit of reflect, on the one hand, on the concept of cultural identity and risk of an anonymous massification, on the other on awareness of the need for comparison and dialogue between diversity. From all conventioneers it was pointed out that the great legacy to be transmitted that will remain for future generations
to "recognize the other" which means, then, measure yourself.
The Folk Groups have always been accustomed to traveling and, representing the folklore of their own country, to be "protagonists" of festivals, exhibitions and cultural exchanges; so, to be in contact with many evidence of cultural diversity, in a "comparison" that has always connotes the way of being of the Groups themselves, accustomed to "meeting" without any borders. For all Folk Groups and for the lovers/students of traditions popular, “recognizing the other” means - as was pointed out by Franco Megna during the works of the meeting - give substance to that theory of co-presence put into field by Prof. Aurelio Rigoli, yes President of the Scientific Council
of the F.I.T.P., who – by sending in the attic the concept of tolerance, only seemingly egalitarian - wanted to point out the right way to interpret the concept of “roots” e that of "diversity" as wealth.
Sure, in a time that defenestrates inheritances, identities, roots, talking about roots and culture traditional might seem anachronistic; actually, it is this cultural flattening that makes like a young man of New York to Hong Kong.
For this reason, it was, in many voices, highlighted as it always makes more urgent request a higher attention to specifics local, taking shape more than ever alive and vital the need for one reappropriation of cultural identity,
certainly not to deny one universality of culture, but for enrich it with different facets. In fact, more and more, the task not only of a “philosophy of knowledge”, but also of a “philosophy of memory” which goes away - as it often comes emphasized by Prof. Mario Atzori, honorary president of the Consulta Federation scientist Italian Popular Traditions – from nostalgia and regret, to fit in within one dimension of future. Our territories will then become identity - memory - inheritance and thus they will represent the brought history of roots that are not homologating, being "excavations of civilization".
Starting from these assumptions, all representatives of the FITP – IGF – IOV – WAPA and FIDAF have strongly underlined the need to wake up from the "sleep of the weak" all public institutions e start, following its example
Puglia Region, suitable routes for “be a legacy” and give a sign policy to the valorisation of ethnographic heritages as fundamental cultural assets. The same President of the Consulta FITP scientist, prof. Enzo Allegro, in his introductory report, linking up with other initiatives put in place with the project “Walks and Encounters…” and, in particular, in setting up the exhibition “Transhumance, the children of the Minotaur. Stories of men and animals
highlighted how the FITP wanted to explore the legacy municipality of the civilization of transhumance and knowledge of values affective, emotional, intellectual of which it carried. Therefore, with the organization of the meeting, Puglia, reiterating the values of hospitality and intercultural dialogue, has proposed itself as a vehicle of awareness to conjugate the “paths of sheep tracks” and the “places of transhumance” with the ways of art e
of resilient communities.
Alliegro said he was certain, in fact, that the seed of resilience can constitute, also in the specific sector linked to popular traditions, a potential flywheel for dialogue e pluralistic comparison, contributing to new forms of transhumance of young people, united by the same passion for folklore and study of popular traditions. Indeed, on the example of value fundamental that we learn by ancient pastoral populations engaged in transhumance (…a move from one side to the other peninsula with herds are not only economies and merchandise but also ideas and opinions, forms of culture and pieces of civilization. To wait flocks and shepherds there were communities
premises ready for exchange, seduced by the magic of reciprocity, fascinated by the call of the meeting and listening…”), the value that teaches “transhumance in the past modern” is the link between different realities that dialogue, between territories physically and culturally distant that, in their complementarity, they establish comparisons pluralistic, in the same way that, through the sheep tracks, they connected different territorial areas between them, but strictly complementary.
After all – as highlighted by dr. Aldo Patruno, Director General of the Culture Department and Tourism of the Puglia Region – is this is the true meaning of the project “Walks and Encounters: raising awareness citizens, and above all young people, to cultural pluralism to encourage participation, exchanging, sharing and knowledge of different cultures e traditions and promote culture of reciprocity, value to be transmitted and deliver to the generations of today and tomorrow. At the conclusion of the meeting, moderated by Fabrizio Cattaneo e cared for in its organization by the Secretary General of the FITP, Franco Megna, was approved and signed by the Presidents and Secretaries Generals of FITP – IGF – IOV – WAPA and FIDAF an important memorandum of understanding with which the above-mentioned Bodies - referring, inter alia, the Convention for the preservation of cultural heritage immaterial, approved by UNESCO General Conference in 2003 and entered into force on the 20th April 2006, which aims to safeguard, promote and conduct activities research on forms of expression traditional culture such as music, theatre, legends, the dance as well as traditional knowledge relating to the environment and techniques handcrafted - they have, jointly, reaffirmed the commitment to promote
knowledge of different cultures and traditions and to promote one culture of reciprocity and contrast to prejudice and discrimination cultural and have agreed to promote cultural exchanges between young people united by the same passion for folklore and to support participation of folk groups, particularly representative, of Apulian folklore, through the organization of twinning, reviews and festivals that, beyond the spectacular peculiarities, they represent always dating that promote dialogue, knowledge and friendship. The document, for the Federation Italian Popular Traditions, it was signed by the President, Benito Ripoli and by the Secretary General, Frank Megna.