Ouagadougou – The Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco announced the successful inscription of the “MALHOUN” element into UNESCO’s representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This approval came during the 18th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Botswana.
According to Burkina Information Agency, this inscription represents international recognition of an authentic Moroccan heritage, acknowledging MALHOUN as a significant source of Morocco’s rich artistic tradition and a vital component of ancient Moroccan cultural identity. This endorsement by UNESCO underscores the efforts of the Kingdom of Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in preserving and conserving Moroccan cultural heritage.
On this occasion, the Secretary-General of the Department of Culture, Ms. Samira Malizi, expressed Morocco’s gratitude to the evaluation committee, members of the intergovernmental body, and the Secretariat of the 2003 Convention for recognizing MALHOUN as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. MALHOUN, an art form prevalent in various regions of Morocco, is a fundamental symbol of Moroccan cultural heritage.
The recognition of MALHOUN as a cultural heritage of humanity acknowledges its human and humanist dimensions, along with Morocco’s continuous efforts to preserve its intangible cultural heritage, in line with the 2003 Convention. This achievement also highlights the collaborative work of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Royal Academy of Morocco, and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to UNESCO.
Presented to the UNESCO nomination committee, MALHOUN is described as an ancient Moroccan poetic-musical expression that originated in the Tafilalet region in southeastern Morocco. Initially developed within the region’s zaouïas, MALHOUN gradually spread to larger cities, where it found a welcoming environment and interpretation within the guilds of artisans in ancient urban centers.