During its 18th session in Botswana on Tuesday, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) granted Morocco’s appeal to include “Malhoun” on the Representative List of Humanity’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, announced the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication.
This worldwide accreditation acknowledges Malhoun’s genuine Moroccan legacy, emphasizing its key position in the country’s artistic tapestry and integral place within the traditional Moroccan cultural identity. The UNESCO recognition underlines King Mohammed VI’s continued efforts to preserve and showcase Morocco’s cultural heritage.
Samira Malizi, Secretary-General of the Department of Culture of Morocco, extended gratitude to the assessment committee, members of the Intergovernmental Committee, and the Secretariat of the 2003 Convention for their critical involvement in the inscription of Malhoun.
Malhoun, a poetic-musical expression based in the Tafilalet region, has evolved from its zaouïas foundations into a symbol of Morocco’s rich cultural heritage. This acknowledgment not only emphasizes its humanistic relevance, but also recognizes Morocco’s collaborative efforts, led by the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication in partnership with the Royal Academy of Morocco and the Moroccan Permanent Mission to UNESCO.
The submission dossier to UNESCO’s candidacy committee detailed Malhoun as an ancient Moroccan poetic-musical expression originating in Tafilalet, gradually spreading from Zaouïas to the Kingdom’s major cities, where it found an overwhelmingly receptive audience among artisan guilds in ancient urban centers.