Eastern Algeria's female ceremonial costume, inscribed in list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

ALGIERS-The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) validated, on Tuesday, the inscription of Algeria’s file “The women’s ceremonial costume in the Eastern region of Algeria: knowledge and skills associated with the making and adornment of the “Gandoura” and the “Melehfa,” on the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, during the 19^th session of the Committee, which is taking place in Asuncion (Paraguay) until December 7, the Ministry of Culture and Arts said in a press release.

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Algeria won the bet after “the hard work accomplished by the Ministry of Culture and Arts in implementing the comprehensive national strategy for the protection and enhancement of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage it contains and which is part of the memory and heritage of humanity as a whole,” said the same source, adding that this heritage “must be protected and valued to strengthen our cultural security, which is at the heart of our overall national security.”

This success is also “the crowning of the efforts of researchers and experts from the institutions under supervision who worked to develop this file,” as well as “the exceptional work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs, through its various central services, the permanent delegation of Algeria to UNESCO, and our various embassies abroad, along with all those who contributed to the development of this file, whether artisans, professionals, academics, experts, university researchers, civil society, or citizens from all backgrounds,” according to the same source.

This new exploit “is the result of the legal principles and provisions outlined in UNESCO’s 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the outcome of the professionalism of experts from the advisory evaluation body of objectivity of the member States of the intangible cultural heritage committee, of which Algeria has officially become a member during this session.”

“Algeria is among the first countries to have ratified UNESCO’s 2003 Convention, in terms of the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage,” recalls the same document.

The elements inscribed in the file include: “the gandoura, melehfa, lqat, qwiyet, chechia, loukaa, saroual, edkhila, mandil, guenour, and hzam,” embroidered the elmejboud, elfetla, kentil, tell, perlage and taamar thread techniques.

Silver and gold jewellery include “chachia soltani, djebine, Khit Errouh, Menagach (earrings), Mechref, mkhabel, skhab, mhazma, hzam, harz, ibzim, msayas, mekyas, khelkhal and redif,” added the press release. [/ecr]