UNESCO proclaims Marrakesh square masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity
Morocco, Culture, 5/21/2001

The famous Marrakesh square "Jamaa El Fna," a world of story-tellers, musicians and other mountebanks was proclaimed on Friday part of the 19 cultural spaces and forms of expressions labeled as "masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity."

The proclamation of this list, the first of its kind, was made at the end of a 3-day meeting of an international jury of 18 members, chaired by the Spanish author Juan Goytisolo, which reviewed 32 candidatures. By proclaiming these 19 masterpieces, UNESCO - whose World Heritage List of the outstanding cultural and natural sites is very well-known - wanted to raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding intangible heritage, an essential component of cultural diversity. During the ceremony, UNESCO director-general, Koichiro Matsuura, stressed that the proclamation was just one first immediate initiative made ahead of the future undertaking of another one going in the same direction: the creation of a standard-setting instrument that will complement the 1972 World Heritage Convention.

Jamaa el-Fna Square is situated near the city of Marrakesh, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. A cultural crossroads, local people as well as visitors use it as a central meeting place. They come for entertainment and trading - even medical treatment. Here they find storytelling, acrobatics, musical recitals, comic acts and stunts, dancing, animal shows, snake-charming, glass and fire-eating. The square also hosts fortune-telling, astrology, numerology, and preaching. Even dental, traditional herb medicine and henna tattoo businesses are established here. Trading includes fruit, bread, water-carrying and the rental of lanterns during the dark evenings.

Jamaa el-Fna Square dates back to the foundation of Marrakesh in 1070-1071, and since then has been the symbol of the city. Travelers have long extolled its cosmopolitanism and vibrancy. It has been protected by law since the 1920s.

UNESCO says on its website the square is presently facing threats linked to the growth and modernization of Marrakesh. Traffic, pollution, city development plans and tourism are taking their toll.

The organization adds the square needs to be a model of town planning that gives priority to people, culture, encounter and exchange. The 10-year action plan will identify major problems and link together institutions involved in preserving the square. Practitioners' rights will be protected and scientific inventories established. A National Scientific Institute of Oral Heritage will be created to study the history of Djamaa el-Fna Square.

Four of the proclaimed masterpieces were presented by countries of the American continent: the language, dances and music of the Garifuna (Belize, supported by Honduras and Nicaragua); the Oruro Carnival (Bolivia); the cultural space of the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit of the Congos of Villa Mella (Dominican Republic); the oral heritage and cultural manifestations of the Zapara People (Ecuador and Peru).

Three African cultural spaces and forms of expression have also been distinguished as masterpieces: The oral heritage of Gelede, (Benin, supported by Nigeria and Togo); the Gbofe of Afounkaha: the Music of the transverse trumpets of the Tagbana community (C?te d'Ivoire); the cultural space of Sosso Bala in Niagassola (Guinea).

In Asia, UNESCO honoured six masterpieces: Kunqu opera (China); Kutiyattam Sanskrit theatre (India); Nogaku theatre (Japan); royal ancestral rite and ritual music in Jongmyo shrine (Korea); the Hudhud chants of the Ifugao (Philippines); the cultural space of the Boysun District (Uzbekistan).

European oral and intangible heritage numbers five laureates: the mystery play of Elche (Spain); Georgian polyphonic singing (Georgia); the Sicilian puppet theatre, opera Dei Pupi (Italy), cross crafting and its symbolism in Lithuania (Lithuania supported by Latvia); the cultural space and oral culture of the Semeiskie (Russian Federation).

UNESCO defines as oral and intangible heritage as: "The totality of tradition-based creations of a cultural community, expressed by a group of individuals and recognized as reflecting the expectations of a community in so far as they reflect its cultural and social identity; its standards and values are transmitted orally, by imitation or by other means. Its forms are, among others, language, literature, music, dance, games, mythology, rituals, customs, handicrafts, architecture and other arts. In addition to these examples, account will also be taken of traditional forms of communication and information."

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