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Morocco's Malhun on UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

A group of Moroccan artists playing music (UNESCO)
A group of Moroccan artists playing music (UNESCO)
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Morocco's Malhun on UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

A group of Moroccan artists playing music (UNESCO)
A group of Moroccan artists playing music (UNESCO)

UNESCO will be including Malhun, a popular poetic and musical art, on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, announced Morocco's Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication.
Malhun originated in the Tafilalet region in southeastern Morocco, dating back to at least the tenth century. It may have emerged in zawiyas, religious orders, and places for those of faith before spreading to society.
The listing is an international recognition of the authentic Moroccan heritage and a reference to the ancient Moroccan identity and cultural component.
The international recognition is a confirmation of Moroccan efforts under the leadership of King Mohammed VI to conserve the cultural heritage.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture Samira Malizi thanked the evaluation committee and the secretariat of the 2003 agreement for including Malhun on the list.
Malhun is a popular form of poetic expression in Morocco. The verses are sung in dialectical Arabic and sometimes Hebrew.
They are accompanied by music played on traditional instruments, notably the lute, the violin, the rebab, and small drums.
Including Malhun on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is an acknowledgment of its humanitarian significance and of Morocco's efforts to preserve its intangible cultural heritage.
It also rewards the great collective work the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication carried out in cooperation with the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco and Morocco's Permanent Mission to UNESCO.
According to the file submitted by the UNESCO Nominations Commission, Malhun is a popular form of poetic expression directly drawn from daily life, developed according to a specific type of poetic meter. The poems are sung in a melody that gives the words and the narration their full importance.
According to specialists, the term's etymology has two possible explanations. It could refer to the use of a language without observing grammatical restrictions or the Arabic word "lahen" (melody), meaning "musical composition."

 

 

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Heavy Rains Damage Historic Buildings, Forts in Yemen

Unprecedented rains have hit parts of Yemen this season. (EPA)
Unprecedented rains have hit parts of Yemen this season. (EPA)
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Heavy Rains Damage Historic Buildings, Forts in Yemen

Unprecedented rains have hit parts of Yemen this season. (EPA)
Unprecedented rains have hit parts of Yemen this season. (EPA)

Recent heavy rains have caused significant damage in cities and villages controlled by the Houthi group in Yemen.

Historic forts and ancient buildings have been affected, with homes collapsing in Sanaa, its outskirts, and in the governorates of Raymah, Amran, Al-Bayda, and Hodeidah.

Flooding has particularly impacted the Bustan al-Sultan and Harqan neighborhoods in the UNESCO-listed city of Sanaa.

Sources have accused the Iran-backed Houthis of neglecting the disaster and ignoring residents’ calls for help, while they instead focused on their annual sectarian celebrations.

The Houthi-controlled “Historical Cities Preservation Authority” issued urgent warnings about historic buildings at risk of collapse in the old city in Sanaa and elsewhere. They reported that an ancient palace in an old neighborhood is near collapse.

In rural Sanaa, local sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the historic Haraz fort has partially collapsed due to the rains. The fort is one of Yemen’s oldest.

The Raymah governorate has also suffered, with recent floods causing around eight deaths and destroying over 400 homes, including ancient buildings. Parts of the historic Zalamlam Mountain Castle have collapsed from the rain.

The Yemen Meteorological and Early Warning Center predicted that heavy thunderstorms, including hail and strong winds, will continue for the next 72 hours.

This weather is expected to impact highlands, slopes, and western coastal areas from Saada in the north to Taiz, Al-Daleh, and Lahj in the south.

The weather forecast predicted continued rainfall, including thunderstorms and strong winds, over parts of Al-Mahra, Hadramawt, Shabwa, Abyan, Marib, and Al-Jawf.

The center also expected strong winds to stir up dust and sand in the Socotra Archipelago, southern coasts, and areas affected by thunderstorms.

It advised people to stay away from valleys, flood-prone areas, and muddy roads. It warned to avoid electrical poles, billboards, and trees, and to turn off mobile phones during storms.