Saudi, Kuwaiti Culture Ministers Sign MoU to Boost Cooperation

The Saudi Minister of Culture and the Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs have signed an MoU. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Culture and the Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs have signed an MoU. SPA
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Saudi, Kuwaiti Culture Ministers Sign MoU to Boost Cooperation

The Saudi Minister of Culture and the Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs have signed an MoU. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Culture and the Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs have signed an MoU. SPA

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud and Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman bin Bedah Al-Mutairi have met at the Riyadh International Book Fair.

During the meeting on Monday, the two ministers emphasized the deep-rooted historical and distinguished relations between the two countries and the importance of joint work in the cultural field under the umbrella of the Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council.

The two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cultural cooperation between the Kingdom’s Ministry of Culture and Kuwait’s National Council for Culture, Arts, and Literature (NCCAL).

The MoU aims to enhance collaboration in various cultural fields such as heritage, architecture, design, museums, visual arts, theater, performing arts, literature, publishing, translation, fashion, culinary arts, and film. It also involves sharing expertise on cultural systems, regulations, and policies and participating in each other's festivals and cultural events.

As members of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), both parties will jointly coordinate agreements and contribute to strategic projects across various cultural sectors. Additionally, the MoU seeks to establish artistic residency programs and implement projects for preserving heritage in all its forms.

The MoU is based on longstanding historical ties and solid fraternal relations between the leaderships and peoples of the Kingdom and Kuwait. Its goal is to strengthen relations as part of the two countries' ongoing efforts to improve bilateral relations across different cultural aspects and to promote international cultural exchange, which aligns with the objectives of the National Culture Strategy under the umbrella of Saudi Vision 2030.

The Kuwaiti ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Sabah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, was present at the meeting.



New Zealand Reclaims Record for Largest Haka Dance

People take part in a world record attempt for the largest mass Haka at Eden Park in Auckland on September 29, 2024. (AFP)
People take part in a world record attempt for the largest mass Haka at Eden Park in Auckland on September 29, 2024. (AFP)
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New Zealand Reclaims Record for Largest Haka Dance

People take part in a world record attempt for the largest mass Haka at Eden Park in Auckland on September 29, 2024. (AFP)
People take part in a world record attempt for the largest mass Haka at Eden Park in Auckland on September 29, 2024. (AFP)

New Zealand has set the world record for the most people to perform a haka, a traditional dance of the country's indigenous Maori, reclaiming the title from France.

A statement by Auckland’s Eden Park, which hosted the record attempt on Sunday, said 6,531 people had performed Ka Mate, the haka, which surpassed the current record of 4,028 people, held by France since 2014.

"Haka is an important part of our culture and returning the mana (prestige) of this world record away from the French and back to the land of its origins and ensuring it was performed correctly and with integrity was vital,” Hinewehi Mohi, cultural ambassador for HAKA and co-founder of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust, told New Zealand’s 1News.

The haka, a customary dance by Maori, was traditionally a way to welcome visiting tribes or to invigorate warriors ahead of battle. It is now performed at important events and is the most well-known as part of the New Zealand rugby teams pre-game ritual.

There are many haka but the one performed at the world record attempt is the most well-known and was composed around 1920 by Te Rauparaha, chief of Ngati Toa iwi or tribe.

Event organizers had hoped at least 10,000 participants would attend the event, which was also fundraising for Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust.

Nick Sautner, Eden Park chief executive, said watching thousands of passionate New Zealanders from young children to elders perform Ka Mate at the stadium was a truly memorable moment.

“It’s more than just numbers – it’s about honoring our cultural legacy on a global stage,” Sautner said in a statement released late Sunday.

Almost 1 million of New Zealand's 5.2 million population have Maori ancestry.