Panama is seeking a place for its traditional quincha houses on the UNESCO Urgent Safeguarding List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This nomination not only highlights their sustainable value but also the spirit of solidarity that has kept this ancestral technique alive.
Panama submitted the file on the construction processes of quincha houses and community building events known as "juntas de embarre," warning of the urgency to protect this tradition at risk of disappearing. The lack of generational renewal and the preference for modern materials are endangering a knowledge passed down for centuries.
Quincha is built with wood, cane, mud, and straw. It's a simple, resistant, and adaptable technique to changing climates, thanks to its flexible structure that responds well to earthquakes and high temperatures. But its essence goes beyond the materials: the magic lies in the people.
The homes are born in community gatherings called "juntas de embarre," where neighbors come together to stomp mud, form walls, and raise a home in a single day. All accompanied by food, songs, and the human warmth that turns construction into a celebration.
This practice remains alive in Macaracas, Pedasí, Guararé, Las Tablas, El Valle de Antón, and La Colorada, communities where consultations were held to build this file, now among the 78 finalists seeking to enter the world list.
Intangible Cultural Heritage includes traditions, rituals, and knowledge transmitted through generations. Its recognition aims to protect, maintain cultural diversity, and strengthen the identity of peoples. The results will be announced from December 8 to 13 in New Delhi, India, during the twentieth session of the Intergovernmental Committee.
If approved, Panama will receive international support to ensure this ancestral knowledge is not lost over time. Panama already has three inscriptions on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage: the painted hat, the Congo culture, and the Corpus Christi Dances. In 2023, the Armila Sea Turtle Cultural and Ecological Festival was also recognized as a good practice.
Alongside Panama, other Latin American countries have presented expressions such as Cuban son, the Passion of Christ in Iztapalapa, Venezuelan joropo, Córdoba's quartet, Haiti's compás, and other manifestations seeking world recognition.
Now it's quincha's turn. A house made of mud, but raised with hands and heart.
