Fez – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced on December 14 the addition of Arabic calligraphy, a key tradition in the Arab and Islamic worlds, to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Morocco, along with 15 other Arab-speaking countries, presented the nomination of “Arabic calligraphy: knowledge, skills and practices” to UNESCO to be inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
One of UNESCO’s most important tasks is to preserve vital cultural and historical monuments and customs around the world. The organization currently has 193 countries as members and is well-known for its World Heritage List, which contains world-famous sites such as Volubilis and Igudar in Morocco.
The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List includes nonphysical items, such as cultural beliefs, customs, and practices.
The UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is currently meeting virtually from December 13 to 18 examining 55 new requests of inscription submitted by the States parties.
UNESCO also inscribed “falconry a living human heritage” on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. As well, the UN body decided on December 15 to inscribe Morocco’s equestrian art of Tbourida during their virtual meetings.
Read also: UNESCO Includes ‘Tbourida’ as Intangible Moroccan Cultural Heritage
UNESCO enlisted other inscriptions to the List of Intangible Heritage including “the values, knowledge, customs and practices of the Awajún people related to pottery,” as proposed by Peru. Panama’s “dances and expressions associated with Corpus Christi,” and “the Pasillo, song and poetry” of Ecuador and the Congolese rumba were inscribed on the Intangible Heritage list.
From southern Thailand, the Nora, dance drama was inscribed to the list. Tais, traditional textile from Timor Leste was also inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List of Intangible Heritage.
The committee also included the Nordic clinker boat traditions belonging to Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden on the Intangible Heritage list.
UNESCO is committed to preserving culture as well as ensuring that everyone has equitable access to technology and education. The United Nations organization is stepping up efforts to close the gap between developed and developing countries.
“Arabic calligraphy is the artistic practice of handwriting Arabic script in a fluid manner to convey harmony, grace and beauty,” UNESCO said on its website, adding: “The fluidity of Arabic script offers infinite possibilities, even within a single word, as letters can be stretched and transformed in numerous ways to create different motifs.”
The listing of Arabic calligraphy in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List will help to preserve the cultural and artistic features of the Arabic script.
