Intangible heritage includes oral traditions, memories, languages, traditional arts, rituals, knowledge systems, values and know-how; it is ancient knowledge, traditional knowledge, indigenous knowledge and the knowledge that inheres in poor and often marginalised communities ? knowledge that enriches our lives and must be safeguarded and passed on to future generations.

This monograph defines what is meant by the term 'intangible heritage'. It then reviews the legal and financial instruments developed by countries and international bodies to manage these resources and analyses how they relate to instruments that deal with tangible heritage. The authors recommend ways that communities can safeguard their intellectual property rights as well as how cultural policy-makers within government and donor agencies can support communities by linking development initiatives with arts and heritage.

The Social Cohesion and Integration Research Programme (SCI) of the HSRC led the project. SCI is dedicated to the promotion of excellence, leadership and public discourse in the arts, sports, religion, media, history and the sciences.