Paris, France: UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has inscribed 47 elements submitted by 60 countries on the Intangible Cultural Heritage lists.
UAE’s traditional embroidery skills, Al Talli, was also included in the list of elements inscribed by UNESCO.
The 17th session of the intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of this heritage, chaired by the Kingdom of Morocco, led to the inscription by States sitting on the Committee of 47 elements including: four on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, 39 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and four on the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.
Congratulation to the States that have put forward these proposals, the members of the Committee for the quality of their debates, Morocco for hosting them and the 180 States that bring this UNESCO Convention to life. This living heritage plays an essential role in bringing people together and making peace grow in the minds of men.
Ms. Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, stated.
Talli is a traditional handicraft practised in the United Arab Emirates. The demand for the handicraft is currently at its highest prior to religious festivals (Eid) and the marriage season.
Talli is a labor-intensive handicraft that is typically passed down from mothers to daughters. The gathering of women in houses and neighbourhoods to braid Talli has a social element, as it offers an opportunity for social interaction and for the exchange of Talli knowledge, folk tales, and proverbs.
Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and member of the Dubai Council, appreciated the UAE’s successful efforts to include the ‘Al Thalli’ traditional craft in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions, and practises in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen, and Alheda’a were also inscribed by UNESCO.