Events

Saharawi tradition of Tan Tan Moussem celebrated at UNESCO

The work of the famous Spanish explorer Kitin Munoz on Tan Tan moussem, a masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage of humanity ", was presented Wednesday in Paris at the headquarters of the United United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).

During the ceremony, which took place in the presence of Mr. Fadel Benyaich, Special project manager at the royal cabinet, Mr. El Mostafa Sahel, Morocco's ambassador in France and Mr. Abderrazak Jaidi, Ambassador General Consul of Morocco in Paris, the outgoing Director-General of Unesco, Koichiro Matsuura, said that the moussem was "at the a very suitable time" included in 2008 on the Representative List of intangible cultural heritage.

This book, he said, "will certainly help" to highlight the importance of safeguarding and revitalization of "this exceptional meeting" which gathers Sahrawi tribes annually.

Mr Matsuura said having himself "the privilege of inaugurating the Moussem in September 2004 with His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid" along with the book's author and Goodwill Ambassador of Unesco, M . Kitin Munoz.

According to the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Morocco to UNESCO, Aziza Bennani, M. Munoz, a native of Sidi Ifni has responded through this book to UNESCO's call for intangible cultural heritage to which the UN Organization enables now universal recognition.

Mrs. Bennani stressed on this occasion, "the importance that His Majesty the King grants to the intangible cultural heritage, bearer of identity, values and meaning, a fragile and vulnerable heritage whose protection by the international community must be intensified in order to transmit it to future generations ".

She also welcomed the engagement by Mr. Munoz for Tan Tan Moussem as well as the commitment of participants to this meeting for a culture at the service of development.

Tan-Tan Moussem is an annual gathering of nomads of the Sahara that brings together more than thirty tribes from southern Morocco and other parts of northwestern Africa.

The presentation and dedication ceremony of this work brought together several personalities including the Director General elect of the organization, Ms. Irina Bokova, Chairman of the Executive Board of UNESCO, Mr Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yai and HRH Princess Kalina from Bulgaria.

In addition, the ceremony was attended by the governor of Tan Tan, Mr. Ahmed Merghich and several elected officials in this province who were wearing for the occasion the traditional dress of southern provinces.

Source: MAP
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