Arab League Celebrates World Arabic Language Day

General view of hotels, banks and office buildings by the Nile River in Egypt, September 12, 2022. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
General view of hotels, banks and office buildings by the Nile River in Egypt, September 12, 2022. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
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Arab League Celebrates World Arabic Language Day

General view of hotels, banks and office buildings by the Nile River in Egypt, September 12, 2022. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
General view of hotels, banks and office buildings by the Nile River in Egypt, September 12, 2022. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo

The General Secretariat of the Arab League's Social Affairs Sector, Culture and Dialogue of Civilizations Department has celebrated the World Arabic Language Day, established under the United Nation General Assembly Resolution 3190 of 1973.

The resolution has set December 18 as the annual World Arabic Language Day and recognized Arabic as one of the official and working languages of the UN.

The celebration included the participation of Deputy Secretary General of King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language Dr. Ibrahim Abanmi, along with heads of numerous Arab and regional organizations, leaders of Arab federations, academics, and experts in the field of Arabic language.

The event highlighted an important segment focused on the Arab strategy to promote the Arabic language, emphasizing its role as a symbol of Arab identity and a crucial tool for development. An action plan was also introduced to facilitate the achievement of these objectives.

This initiative follows a decision made by the UN Economic and Social Council in September, which instructed the general secretariat to refresh the strategy and its action plan in collaboration with various stakeholders. The goal is to adapt to global changes and address the ongoing challenges that the Arabic language and identity face today.
The celebration also included discussions on artificial intelligence and a focus on classical Arabic poetry.



Morocco's Women Rug Weavers Battle to Save Age-old Craft

Women in southern Morocco have kept on the tradition of weaving carpets despite its meagre earnings - AFP
Women in southern Morocco have kept on the tradition of weaving carpets despite its meagre earnings - AFP
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Morocco's Women Rug Weavers Battle to Save Age-old Craft

Women in southern Morocco have kept on the tradition of weaving carpets despite its meagre earnings - AFP
Women in southern Morocco have kept on the tradition of weaving carpets despite its meagre earnings - AFP

In southern Morocco, women are the guardians of the age-old craft of carpet weaving, an intricate art form that often leaves them with meagre earnings.

Women like Ijja Benchri, who creates carpets on a wooden weaving loom outside her small home in the village of Taznakht, follows traditions going back many generations.

"I started when I was 11 or 12, imitating the women I saw weaving," said Benchri, 60.

Known for their bold geometric patterns and vibrant colors, the handwoven rugs are a fixture in local markets and a favorite among tourists.

In 2022, traditional carpets accounted for nearly 22 percent of the kingdom's artisan exports, according to government data, AFP reported.

The mountain villages around Taznakht are famous for their Ait Ouaouzguite carpets, named after a native Amazigh tribe, one among a grouping of several communities indigenous to North Africa long referred to as Berbers.

The carpets are woven by the women on small traditional looms, either at home or in specialised workshops.

They are then categorized into various styles, depending on their region of origin and their designs.

Some of Morocco's finest rugs are crafted from high-quality sheep wool in Jbel Sirwa just south of the Atlas Mountains, and dyed using natural pigments from plants like henna, pomegranate peels, or indigo.

Though industrial dyes have replaced natural ones for most weavers because they are cheaper and can be produced more quickly.

"This tradition has been handed down for centuries, from mothers to daughters," said Safia Imnoutres, who leads a local women's weaving cooperative.

She was one of the women showcasing their creations at a recent festival in Taznakht dedicated to safeguarding the heritage.

- 'Comes from within' -

Creating a single carpet can take two to four weeks depending on its size, said Benchri, speaking in Tamazight, the community's language recognized as an official language alongside Arabic in Morocco.

"I choose the colors as I go, according to my feelings," she added.

Imnoutres also described the process as "instinctive", guided by emotion rather than a predetermined design.

"Weaving is an expression of the women's feelings, when they are joyful, when they are melancholic," she added. "It's an art that comes from within."

But beyond its artistic value, weaving is a vital source of income.

Every Thursday, many travel to a weekly market to sell their rugs, often to middlemen who set the prices.

On average, a large rug sells for just 250 Moroccan dirhams (around $24), with its final price later raking astronomical profits.

In cities like Marrakech, some 250 kilometres (160 miles) north of Taznakht, they are sold in bazaars for up to ten times the original price.

Other rugs are listed at up to $6,000 on online platforms.

"We earn very little," said Benchri. "The intermediaries decide the price, and we have no choice but to accept it because this is our livelihood."

These diminishing returns, she added, have contributed to making the craft less attractive for younger women and jeopardising the handcraft tradition.

Additionally, the influx of cheaper, machine-made rugs has deepened competition.

To address these challenges, a new exhibition space in Taznakht allows some weavers to sell their work directly to buyers, cutting out middlemen.

The center also tries to open new avenues for these women to sell their products independently through courses in digital marketing.

"If this heritage isn't made financially viable, we risk losing it," Imnoutres warned.