This article lists the practices listed in UNESCO intangible cultural heritage to Morocco.
Understand
The country has nine practices listed on the "representative list of intangible cultural heritage "From UNESCO and a practice on"emergency backup list ».
No additional practice is included in the "register of best practices for safeguarding culture ».
Lists
Representative list
| Convenient | Year | Domain | Description | Drawing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 The Tan-Tan Moussem | 2008 | * social practices, rituals and festive events * Performing Arts * oral traditions and expressions | The Moussem of Tan-Tan, in southwest Morocco, is an annual gathering of nomads from the Sahara that brings together more than 30 tribes from southern Morocco and other parts of northwest Africa. Originally, it was held annually around May. As part of the agropastoral calendar of the nomads, it was an opportunity to meet, buy, sell and exchange food and other products, organize camel and horse breeding competitions, perform weddings and consult with herbalists. The Moussem was also the pretext for various cultural expressions: music, popular songs, games, poetry games and other Hassani oral traditions. It was from 1963 that these gatherings took the form of a Moussem (a kind of annual fair with economic, cultural and social functions), when the first Moussem of Tan-Tan was organized to promote local traditions and offer a place of exchange, meeting and celebration. The Moussem was initially associated with Mohamed Laghdaf, a fierce resistance to the Franco-Spanish occupation, who died in 1960 and was buried not far from the town of Tan-Tan. Between 1979 and 2004, security problems in the region prevented the holding of the Moussem. Today, nomadic populations are particularly concerned about protecting their way of life. The economic and technical changes in the region have profoundly changed the way of life of nomadic Bedouin communities, forcing many of them to settle down. Urbanization and the rural exodus have also contributed to the disappearance of many aspects of the traditional culture of these populations, especially crafts and poetry. This is why the Bedouin communities are counting on the revival of the Tan-Tan Moussem to help them ensure the survival of their skills and traditions. | _в_Тан-Тане_(Марокко).jpg/150px-Муссем_(фольклорный_фестиваль)_в_Тан-Тане_(Марокко).jpg) |
| 2 The cultural space of Jemaa el-Fna square | 2008 | * Performing Arts * social practices, rituals and festive events * know-how related to traditional craftsmanship * oral traditions and expressions | Jemaa el-Fna Square is one of the main cultural spaces of Marrakech. Having become one of the symbols of the city since its founding in the eleventh century, it offers an exceptional concentration of popular Moroccan cultural traditions which are expressed through music, religion and various artistic expressions. Located at the entrance to the Medina, this triangular square surrounded by restaurants, stalls and public buildings is the daily theater of commercial activities and entertainment. It is a meeting point for the inhabitants of the city, but also for people from elsewhere. Throughout the day, and until late at night, you can buy fruit, taste traditional dishes and find a variety of services such as dental care, traditional medicine, divination, preaching, henna tattooing or babywearing. 'water. You can also see and hear storytellers, poets, snake charmers, Berber musicians (mazighen), gnawi dancers and senthir players (hajhouj). Oral expressions were once continuously renewed by the bards (imayazen) who roamed the Berber territories. Even today, they mix talk and talk to teach, entertain and charm the public. They now tend to adapt their art to the contemporary world by improvising on the fabric of an ancient text, thus making their stories accessible to a wider audience. Jemaa el-Fna Square is a major place of cultural exchange and has benefited from protection since 1922 as part of the artistic heritage of Morocco. But urbanization, in particular real estate speculation and the development of road infrastructure, is considered a serious threat to this cultural space. While Jemaa el-Fna Square enjoys great popularity, cultural practices could nevertheless be affected by acculturation, particularly linked to the development of tourism. |  |
| 3 The Sefrou Cherry Festival | 2012 | * Performing Arts * social practices, rituals and festive events * knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe * know-how related to traditional craftsmanship | For three days in June, each year, the local population of Sefrou celebrates the region’s natural and cultural beauty, symbolized by the cherry and the new Cherry Queen chosen that year in a competition that attracts female competitors from the region and across the country. The highlight of the party is a parade with troupes of fantasia, rural and urban music, majorettes and brass bands, and floats representing local producers. In the center stands the Cherry Queen who offers cherries to the spectators, adorned in her most beautiful costumes and surrounded by her runners-up. The whole population contributes to the success of the festival: the women artisans make the silk buttons for traditional clothes, the arborists provide the cherries, the local sports clubs take part in the competitions and the music and dance troupes animate all the events. festivities. The Cherry Festival provides an opportunity for the entire city to present its activities and achievements. The young generation is also integrated into festive activities to ensure their viability. The festival is a source of pride and belonging which values the self-esteem of the city and its inhabitants, and constitutes a fundamental contribution to their local identity. |  |
| The Mediterranean diet | 2013 | * oral traditions and expressions * social practices, rituals and festive events * knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe * know-how related to traditional craftsmanship | The Mediterranean diet involves a set of skills, knowledge, rituals, symbols and traditions that concern crops, harvests, picking, fishing, breeding, conservation, processing, cooking and, in particular, the way of sharing the table and of consuming food. Eating together is the foundation of the cultural identity and continuity of communities in the Mediterranean basin. It is a moment of social exchange and communication, of affirmation and refounding of the identity of the family, group or community. The Mediterranean diet emphasizes the values of hospitality, good neighborliness, intercultural dialogue and creativity, and on a way of life guided by respect for diversity. It plays an important role in cultural spaces, festivals and celebrations by bringing together populations of all ages, classes and conditions. It includes craftsmanship and the production of objects for transporting, preserving and consuming food, including ceramic dishes and glasses. Women play an essential role in the transmission of know-how and knowledge of the Mediterranean diet, in the safeguarding of techniques, in the respect of seasonal rhythms and festive punctuations of the calendar, and in the transmission of the values of the element. to new generations. Likewise, markets play a key role as spaces for the culture and transmission of the Mediterranean diet, in the daily learning of exchange, mutual respect and agreement. |  |
| Argan, practices and know-how related to the argan tree | 2014 | * oral traditions and expressions * knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe * know-how related to traditional craftsmanship | The argan tree is an endemic sylvan species present in the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve of southwestern Morocco. Women and, to a lesser extent, men living in the rural areas of the Reserve use traditional methods to extract argan oil from the fruit of the argan tree. Different tasks, the performance of which is transmitted through imitation and non-formal learning, are necessary to obtain the oil, which finds many uses in food, medicine and cosmetics. These tasks are fruit picking, drying, pulping, crushing, sorting, milling and kneading. The specific hand mill is made by local artisans, and the mixing involves the gradual addition of lukewarm water in precise quantities. All cultural aspects relating to the argan tree, including the cultivation of the tree, the extraction of oil, the preparation of recipes and derived products, and the making of the craft tools necessary for the various tasks contribute to social cohesion. , understanding between individuals and mutual respect between communities. Argan oil is given as a wedding gift and is frequently used in the preparation of ceremonial dishes. Traditional skills relating specifically to the extraction of oil and its multiple uses are transmitted by the "argan trees", who teach their daughters, from an early age, to put them into practice. |  |
| Falconry, a living human heritage Note Morocco shares this practice withGermany, the'Saudi Arabia, the'Austria, the Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, the'Spain, the France, the Hungary, the'Italy, the Kazakhstan, the Mongolia, the Pakistan, the Portugal, the Qatar, the Syria, the South Korea and the Czechia. | 2016 | social practices, rituals and festive events | Falconry is the traditional activity of conserving and training falcons and other raptors to catch game in their natural environment. Originally used as a means of obtaining food, falconry is identified today with the spirit of camaraderie and sharing more than with subsistence. It is mainly found along migration routes and corridors and is practiced by amateurs and professionals of all ages, men and women. Falconers develop a strong relationship and spiritual bond with their birds; strong involvement is needed to breed, train, train and fly falcons. Falconry is passed down as a cultural tradition through means as varied as mentoring, learning within the family, or more formal training in clubs. In hot countries, falconers take their children to the desert and teach them how to control the bird and build a trusting relationship with it. While falconers come from very diverse origins, they share common values, traditions and practices, including bird training methods and how to care for them, the equipment used and the emotional bond between the falconer and the bird. Falconry is the bedrock of a wider cultural heritage, which includes traditional costumes, food, songs, music, poetry and dances, all customs nurtured by the communities and clubs that practice it. |  |
| Knowledge, know-how, traditions and practices associated with the date palm Note Morocco shares this practice with the Bahrain, the'Iraq, the Jordan, the Kuwait, the Mauritania, the'Egypt, Oman, the Palestine, the'Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, the Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and the Yemen. | 2019 | * Performing Arts * knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe * social practices, rituals and festive events * know-how related to traditional craftsmanship * oral traditions and expressions | The date palm has been associated with the population of the submitting States for centuries, as an essential material for several forms of craftsmanship, several trades and several traditions, customs and socio-cultural practices, but also as an important source of food. The date palm is an evergreen plant typical of dry regions because its roots can penetrate deeply into the soil to absorb moisture. Element bearers and practitioners include owners of date palm plantations; farmers who plant, maintain and irrigate trees; artisans who make traditional products using the different parts of the palm tree; date vendors; and creators and artists who recite folk tales and poems. The knowledge, skills, traditions and practices associated with the date palm have played an essential role in strengthening the links between the inhabitants of the Arab countries concerned and their lands, as this tree has helped them to overcome the difficulties specific to a desert environment. . The region's historical relationship with the element has given rise to a rich cultural heritage bringing together the practices, knowledge and skills still employed today. The development of the element over the centuries and its cultural relevance explain the extent to which local communities are committed to its preservation. To do this, they participate in multiple actions involving the date palm, organize many festive rituals and perpetuate the traditions and customs linked to the element. |  |
| Gnaoua | 2019 | The term gnaoua refers to a set of musical productions, performances, brotherly practices and rituals with a therapeutic vocation where the layman mingles with the sacred. The gnaoua is above all a brotherly Sufi music generally associated with words of a religious nature, which invokes the ancestors and the spirits. Originally practiced by groups and individuals descended from slavery and the slave trade dating back at least to XVIe century, Gnaoua culture is today one of the many facets of Moroccan cultural identity. The gnaoua, especially those of the city, practice a ritual of therapeutic possession in the form of a vigil of rhythms and trance which mingle ancestral African practices, Arab-Muslim influences and indigenous Berber cultural manifestations. The gnaoua of the countryside organize collective meals offered to the marabout saints. Some urban gnaoua use a stringed musical instrument and rattlesnakes, while those in the countryside use large drums and rattlesnakes in particular. In the cities, costumes are colorful and embroidered while rural costumes are white and come with accessories. The number of brotherhood groups and master musicians continues to grow in the villages and large cities of Morocco. Gnaoua groups form associations and organize local, regional, national and international festivals throughout the year. This allows the younger generations to discover the words and instruments as well as the practices and rituals linked to the culture of Gnaoua. |  | |
| Knowledge, know-how and practices related to the production and consumption of couscous Note Morocco shares this practice withAlgeria, the Mauritania and the Tunisia. | 2020 | * Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe * Social practices, rituals and festive events * Know-how related to traditional craftsmanship * Oral traditions and expressions | The knowledge, know-how and practices related to the production and consumption of couscous include the method of preparation, the conditions and tools necessary for the production, the associated artefacts and the circumstances of the consumption of couscous within the communities concerned. The preparation of couscous is a ceremonial process involving different operations. It all starts with cereal growing, the molding of the seeds to obtain a semolina which will be rolled and then cooked after having been steamed. These practices are associated with a set of exclusive tools, instruments and utensils. This dish is accompanied by various vegetable additives and different meats depending on the territory, the season and the circumstances. Nowadays, as in the past, the methods of preparing couscous constitute a sum of knowledge and skills that are transmitted in a non-formal way through observation and reproduction. For the manufacture of utensils, those in clay are made by potters and those in wood are produced by cooperatives or artisanal factories, often family-owned. For several decades, formal transmission has developed beyond the family circle and the home. The non-culinary aspects of the element, namely the rites, oral expressions and certain social practices, are also transmitted by the bearers. Couscous is a dish that has a repertoire of symbols, meanings, social and cultural dimensions all linked to solidarity, conviviality, sharing and living together. |  |
Register of Best Safeguarding Practices
Morocco does not have a practice registered in the register of best safeguarding practices.
Emergency backup list
| Convenient | Year | Domain | Description | Drawing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taskiwin, martial dance of the Western High Atlas | 2017 | * Performing Arts * social practices, rituals and festive events * know-how related to traditional craftsmanship * oral traditions and expressions | The Taskiwin is a martial dance typical of the western High Atlas mountains in central Morocco. It takes its name from the richly decorated horn that each dancer wears, the Tiskt. It consists in making the shoulders vibrate to the rhythm of the tambourines and flutes. This practice encourages social cohesion and harmony and represents an important mode of socialization for young people. Transmission to younger generations is most often done informally, through direct learning. However, for several reasons, the dance is now confined to a reduced number of villages and is threatened with extinction. Globalization threatens to bring it into oblivion, as evidenced by the growing disinterest of young people in traditional heritage, in favor of modern artistic practices. Several communities no longer practice dance and the amateurs and bearers who remain cannot find apprentices to whom to pass on their know-how. The craft of instruments and accessories is also in decline. Nonetheless, over the past two decades, the need to ensure the viability of Taskiwin has been the subject of collective awareness in some communities. Thus, the first association dedicated to this practice was created in the region in 1993. This initiative was followed by several other villages and several local associations are being created. | |
