During this year’s session in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage inscribed 4 elements on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and 39 elements on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Members of the Committee, chaired by H.E. Mr Samir Addahre, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Kingdom of Morocco to UNESCO, allotted a total of USD$305,144 as part of the International Assistance mechanism to one project to further safeguard living heritage in Malawi titled ‘Safeguarding of ludodiversity in Malawi through formal and non-formal education’.

The Committee also selected 4 programmes for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices, including ‘Al Sadu Educational Programme: Train the trainers in the art of weaving’ in Kuwait and the ‘Portuguese-Galician border ICH: a safeguarding model created by Ponte…nas ondas!’ in Portugal and Spain.

UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists now feature 678 elements corresponding to 140 countries.

Additions to List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Viet Nam: Art of pottery-making of Chăm people

Chile: Quinchamalí and Santa Cruz de Cuca pottery

Türkiye: Traditional Ahlat stonework

Albania: Xhubleta, skills, craftsmanship and forms of usage

Additions to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

United Arab Emirates: Al Talli, traditional embroidery skills in the United Arab Emirates

Oman: Al-Khanjar, craft skills and social practices

Jordan: Al-Mansaf in Jordan, a festive banquet and its social and cultural meanings

Saudi Arabia, Oman and United Arab Emirates: Alheda’a, oral traditions of calling camel flocks

Colombia: Ancestral system of knowledge of the four indigenous peoples, Arhuaco, Kankuamo, Kogui and Wiwa of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

France: Artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread

Greece: August 15th (Dekapentavgoustos) festivities in two Highland Communities of Northern Greece: Tranos Choros (Grand Dance) in Vlasti and Syrrako Festival

Andorra and France: Bear festivities in the Pyrenees

Slovenia: Beekeeping in Slovenia, a way of life

Iran (Islamic Republic of) and Syrian Arab Republic: Crafting and playing the Oud|element:01867]]

Azerbaijan and Türkiye: Culture of Çay (tea), a symbol of identity, hospitality and social interaction

United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen: Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices (the inscription of this element have been extended to countries in bold)

Egypt: Festivals related to the Journey of the Holy family in Egypt

Croatia: Festivity of Saint Tryphon and the Kolo (chain dance) of Saint Tryphon, traditions of Croats from Boka Kotorska (Bay of Kotor) who live in the Republic of Croatia

Japan: Furyu-odori, ritual dances imbued with people’s hopes and prayers

Tunisia: Harissa, knowledge, skills and culinary and social practices

Guatemala: Holy Week in Guatemala

Hungary: Hungarian string band tradition

Zambia: Kalela dance

Saudi Arabia: Knowledge and practices related to cultivating Khawlani coffee beans

Cuba: Knowledge of the light rum masters

Cambodia: Kun Lbokator, traditional martial arts in Cambodia

Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia: Lipizzan horse breeding traditions

Spain: Manual bell ringing

Kazakhstan: Orteke, traditional performing art in Kazakhstan: dance, puppet and music

Azerbaijan: Pehlevanliq culture: traditional zorkhana games, sports and wrestling

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea: Pyongyang Raengmyon custom

Algeria: Raï, popular folk song of Algeria

Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Türkiye, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan: Sericulture and traditional production of silk for weaving

Serbia: Social practices and knowledge related to the preparation and use of the traditional plum spirit – šljivovica

Belarus: Straw weaving in Belarus, art, craft and skills

Republic of Korea: Talchum, mask dance drama in the Republic of Korea (pictured above)

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan: Telling tradition of Nasreddin Hodja/ Molla Nesreddin/ Molla Ependi/ Apendi/ Afendi Kozhanasyr Anecdotes

Romania and Republic of Moldova: The art of the traditional blouse with embroidery on the shoulder (altiţă) — an element of cultural identity in Romania and the Republic of Moldova

Germany: The practice of Modern Dance in Germany

Austria, Czechia, Germany, Latvia, Poland and Spain: Timber rafting

China: Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China

Turkmenistan and Iran (Islamic Republic of): Turkmen-style needlework art

Iran (Islamic Republic of) and Afghanistan:Yaldā/Chella

Additions to the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Kuwait: Al Sadu Educational Programme: Train the trainers in the art of weaving

Portugal and Spain: Portuguese-Galician border ICH: a safeguarding model created by Ponte…nas ondas!

Czechia: Strategy for safeguarding traditional crafts: The Bearers of Folk Craft Tradition programme

Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus and France: Tocatì, a shared programme for the safeguarding of traditional games and sports