This article lists the practices listed in UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in Egypt.
Understand
The country has three practices listed on the "representative list of intangible cultural heritage From UNESCO.
No additional practice is included in the "register of best practices for safeguarding culture "And two practices are included in the"emergency backup list ».
Lists
Representative list
| Convenient | Year | Domain | Description | Drawing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The epic Al-Sirah al-Hilaliyyah | 2008 | * Oral traditions and expressions * Performing Arts | This oral poem, also known as the "Hilali Epic," tells the story of the Bani Hilal Bedouin tribe and their tenth century migration from the Arabian Peninsula to North Africa. This tribe dominated for more than a century a vast territory in the center of North Africa, before being wiped out by its Moroccan rivals. Of all the great epic poems of the popular Arab tradition, the epic Hilali is the only one still performed in its full musical form. Once widespread throughout the Middle East, it remains today only in Egypt. Since the fourteenth century, the epic Hilali has been sung in verse by poets accompanied by a percussion instrument or the rabab, a two-stringed spade violin. It is performed at weddings, circumcision ceremonies or private gatherings and can last for several days. Poets were once trained within the family circle, and performing the epic was their only source of income. The arduous apprenticeship began at the age of five and lasted about ten years. Even today, apprentice poets undergo special training to develop their memory and improve their mastery of their instrument. They must also learn to improvise commentaries to make the plots more meaningful to contemporary audiences. The number of performers of the Hilali epic is declining under the combined effect of modern media and the decrease in the number of young people ready to undergo the rigorous training. Pressure from the lucrative Egyptian tourist industry has prompted poets to no longer present the entire repertoire, but short excerpts performed in folklore shows. |  |
| Tahteeb, stick game | 2016 | * Social practices, rituals and festive events * Performing Arts | In ancient Egypt, the tahteeb was considered a form of martial art. it then became a festive game, but some of the symbolism and values associated with its practice remain. Performed in front of an audience, the tahteeb consists of a brief and non-violent exchange between two opponents who each wield a long stick to a background of traditional music. This game requires complete mastery, because it is forbidden to strike. The practitioners are men, young and old, mainly from the Saeedy communities of Upper Egypt, and in particular from rural areas where the stick was used daily by the inhabitants and is considered a symbol of virility. The rules of the game are based on values such as mutual respect, friendship, courage, strength, courtesy and pride. the tahteeb is practiced in public and private social contexts. Competitions are sometimes organized to encourage new players as well as training sessions. tahteeb in which different governorates and which can last for almost a week. The element is transmitted within families, between neighbors and to any individual eager to learn. The skills acquired give participants confidence and performing in front of their community gives them a sense of pride. The game also helps to strengthen family bonds and promotes good relationships between communities. |  |
| Knowledge, know-how, traditions and practices associated with the date palm Note Egypt shares this practice with the Bahrain, the'Iraq, the Jordan, the Kuwait, the Mauritania, the Morocco, 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. |  |
Register of Best Safeguarding Practices
Egypt does not have a practice listed in the Best Safeguarding Practices Register.
Emergency backup list
| Convenient | Year | Domain | Description | Drawing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional hand puppets | 2018 | * Performing Arts * social practices, rituals and festive events * oral traditions and expressions | Al-Aragoz is an ancient form of Egyptian theater that uses traditional hand puppets. Performances are very popular events in which the puppeteers remain hidden in a small moving stage while an assistant interacts with the puppets and the audience. Al-Aragoz takes its name from the main puppet whose characteristic voice is produced with a vocal distortion instrument. The performers and the audience interact dynamically throughout the show, which has a lively and entertaining atmosphere. Practitioners should know how to handle and maintain puppets and also have musical and improvisational skills. The shows cover a range of subjects related to everyday life, the recurring theme being the fight against corruption. The art was once performed by traveling artists who moved from one popular festival to another. However, when the number of performances started to decrease, the performers and their assistants settled down, mainly in Cairo. The viability of the practice is threatened by changes in social, political, legal and cultural conditions specific to its interpretation, such as laws relating to public gatherings, the rise of religious radicalism, a general decline in interest in this art among the younger generations and the advanced age of its active practitioners. The number of practitioners still alive has shrunk, and many once-interpreted stories have now disappeared. |  |
| Hand weaving in Upper Egypt (Sa'eed) | 2020 | * Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe * Know-how related to traditional craftsmanship * Oral traditions and expressions | The artisanal tradition of hand-weaving in Upper Egypt (Sa'eed) is a complex process that takes time, effort, patience, and practice. From making the loom to obtaining the finished product, including threading and weaving, many steps and techniques are required. It is precision work with complex execution. For centuries, men and women have used the knowledge and artistic talents passed down from previous generations to create embroidered textiles, part of the family heirloom, and make it their profession. The main principles of the past are still used today, for linen and cotton as well as for wool or silk. However, weaving mills that used expensive silk thread gradually replaced it with cotton to improve profitability, and small, narrow looms gave way to larger models. Hand weaving is a source of identity and pride for the communities concerned, and the persistence of manual loom terminology is a testament to its great importance to them. However, there are several threats to this practice. It is no longer lucrative, it takes a lot of space to set up the loom, and the equipment is expensive. Weaving is therefore neglected and is no longer transmitted as in the past. It is believed that training a new generation of young weavers could be a solution to the growing problem of unemployment in the communities concerned. |  |
