List of Intangible Cultural Heritage elements in Mauritania

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines intangible cultural heritage () elements as non-physical traditions and practices performed by a people. As part of a country's cultural heritage, they include celebrations, festivals, performances, oral traditions, music, and the making of handicrafts. The term intangible cultural heritage is formally established by the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which was drafted in 2003 and took effect in 2006. The inscription of new heritage elements on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists for protection and safeguarding is determined by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, an organization established by the Convention. Mauritania ratified the Convention on 15 November 2006. It is serving on the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee for the 2022 to 2026 term.

National lists are required by the Convention for the further nomination of elements to the UNESCO lists.

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity consists of three lists: the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices. Mauritania has elements inscribed on the Representative and Urgent Safeguarding lists.

Representative List This list aims to represent the intangible cultural heritage of Mauritania worldwide and bring awareness to its significance.

+ Name Media Year Description Knowledge, know-how and practices pertaining to the production and consumption of couscous 2020 01602 Arabic calligraphy: knowledge, skills and practices 2021 01718 Arabic calligraphy is the practice of transforming and stretching the letters of the Arabic alphabet to convey numerous motifs. It was originally developed to make writing easily understandable and gradually came to be included in marble and wood carving, embroidery, and metal etching, among other art forms. Traditionally the writing instrument, known as the , is made from bamboo stems and reeds. The ink is created using honey, black soot, and saffron. The handmade paper is treated with starch, egg white and alum. More modern forms use markers, synthetic paint, and spray paint. It is passed down both informally and formally, through schools and apprenticeships. Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices 2022 01902 Many historically significant cultural practices associated with the Date palm have been fostered in the Arab world due to the date's sustenance. These range from the cultivation and care of date palms, to the use of it in social customs, and cultural references in song and poetry. Due to this significance, many government agencies and local communities have bolstered the date palm's cultivation and related processing work. Mahadra, a community system for transmission of traditional knowledge and oral expressions 2023 01960 Arts, skills and practices associated with engraving on metals (gold, silver and copper) 2023 01951Metals such as gold, silver and copper have been engraved for centuries. Using various tools, symbols, names, Quran verses, prayers and geometric patterns are cut into the metals. The meanings and uses of the engraved metals will vary by community. However, they can be used for jewelry, household objects, wedding gifts, traditional medicine, and in religious ceremonies. The engraving techniques are taught by family members, although they can also be passed down through formal meanssuch as universities, workshops, organizations and organizationsas well as informal ones like cultural events, publications, and social media. The Epic of Samba Gueladio 2024 01692 Henna, rituals, aesthetic and social practices 2024 02116 Derived from a deciduous tree, henna is a paste used for temporary adornments on the body, usually the hands and feet. The tree is considered sacred in North African and Middle Eastern communities, sometimes being used in traditional medicine. the leaves are harvested twice a year and processed to create a paste. Songs, proverbs, poems, and other practices are tied with the tradition of using henna.The zaffa in the traditional wedding 2025 02283

Need of Urgent Safeguarding This list covers elements that are endangered and thus require appropriate safeguarding. + Name Media Year DescriptionMoorish epic T'heydinn201100524

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage elements in Mauritania

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