DUBAI: The United Nations cultural agency on Wednesday added performances from Bahrain and Morocco to its list of “intangible” heritage.
Bahrain, a Gulf country with a population of about 1.5 million, presented its nomination for Fjiri musical performance, which commemorates the history of pearl diving.
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced the listing on Twitter, along with that of Morocco’s tbourida equestrian performance.
They were among 48 nominees from around the world considered for inscription on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list at an annual UNESCO-led meeting.
Bahrain’s Fjiri dates to the late 19th century when “it was traditionally performed by pearl divers and pearling crews to express the hardships faced at sea,” UNESCO said on its website.
“The performers sit in a circle, singing and playing different types of drums, finger chimes and a jahl, a clay pot used as an instrument,” it added.
“The center of the circle is occupied by the dancers and the lead singer.”
Fjiri “is viewed as a means of expressing the connection between the Bahraini people and the sea,” UNESCO said.
Tbourida, also known as “fantasia,” is even older.
It dates from the 16th century and “simulates a succession of military parades, reconstructed according to ancestral Arab-Amazigh conventions and rituals,” UNESCO said.
Performances conclude with a round of gunfire.
“The riders’ customs and costumes represent their tribe or region, and transmission takes place from generation to generation within families, through oral traditions and by observation.”
Bahrain and Morocco were also among 16 Muslim-majority countries that presented the nomination of Arabic calligraphy, a tradition in the Arab and Islamic worlds, which was earlier added to the heritage list during this week’s meeting.
Also listed Wednesday was “the art of Palestinian embroidery.”
In its recognition, the UN agency said the craft of intricate stitching began in villages, where women wear long dresses, trousers, a jacket, a headdress and a veil, each styled with embroidery.
“Originally made and worn in rural areas, the practice is now common in all of Palestine and among members of the diaspora,” the UN agency wrote.
The list of intangible heritage now includes almost 500 inscriptions.
Moroccan, Bahrain performances join UN heritage list
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Moroccan, Bahrain performances join UN heritage list
- Bahrain's Fjiri and Morocco's tbourida among 48 nominees considered for inscription on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list
Jessica Kahawaty to narrate London concert paying tribute to Arab music icons
DUBAI: Australian Lebanese model and entrepreneur Jessica Kahawaty this week announced that she will serve as the storyteller for “A Night With The Legends,” a one-night musical tribute celebrating iconic women of Arabic music, taking place at London’s Royal Albert Hall on March 5.
Kahawaty will portray Scheherazade and deliver spoken narration during the program.
The evening will pay tribute to the legacies of Umm Kulthum, Fairuz, Warda, Sabah, Asmahan and Layla Mourad.
Vocals will be performed by Lebanese vocalist Abeer Nehme, accompanied by the UK-based London Arab Orchestra under the direction of conductor Basel Saleh, alongside the London-based Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. The program will also feature a 70-member all-female choir.
“I’m incredibly humbled,” Kahawaty wrote to her 1.8 million followers on Instagram. “As storyteller, I’ll be weaving history, memory and meaning into the musical experience in a one-night tribute celebrating the iconic women of the golden era of Arabic music.”
“I cannot wait to see you all there,” she added.
Kahawaty is also an entrepreneur. She co-founded fine jewelry label Kahawaty Jewels with her father, master jeweler Ghassan Kahawaty, launching the Dubai-based brand last year as a continuation of the family’s longstanding craftsmanship tradition.
“I grew up watching my father in his jewelry trade. I saw how happy he made people when he created these beautiful pieces,” Kahawaty previously told Arab News. “I’ve always wanted to continue my father’s legacy and my grandfather’s trade. I felt like this is the perfect time to launch Kahawaty Jewels in Dubai, which is a city I’ve been in for over 13 years.”
Kahawaty and her mother are also behind UAE-based food delivery business Mama Rita. In July last year, the pair expanded the venture with the launch of a cookbook, which featured a cover endorsement from Hollywood actress and producer Courteney Cox.
Writing on Instagram at the time, Kahawaty said: “The moment we held the Mama Rita cookbook in our hands for the very first time … after two years of pouring our hearts into it. And we’re beyond thrilled to share a special surprise on the cover — a quote from the one and only (Courteney Cox). Her iconic role as Monica in ‘Friends’ — the talented chef, perfectionist and loving control freak — mirrors so much of the dynamic between mum and me. And her true persona is even more beautiful, warm and generous.”
