A file picture shows Tunisian twayef troupe performing. Social media
Henna rituals and practices, Aleppo soap from Syria, Nablusi soap from Palestine and roses from Saudi Arabia are among the cultural heritage practices that were recently added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage lists.
Established in 2008, the lists aim to ensure the better protection of cultural heritage and promote its significance. This year's list is being compiled at a general session taking place in Paraguay until Saturday.
Intangible Cultural Heritage takes in several lists, including the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which encompasses the practices and expressions of communities, and the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, which last year included Syria's glass-blowing tradition.
Henna practices
The UAE is one of 16 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Palestine, which submitted traditional henna-making practices to be added to the list.
Henna is a deciduous tree that grows in hot regions. Perceived as sacred by communities in Northern Africa and the Middle East, its leaves are harvested twice a year, left to dry, then ground and processed to create a paste.
The specific ingredients and techniques deployed to prepare the paste vary according to the intended function and country. Henna paste is commonly used by women for adornment, such as to dye hair and fingertips or to decorate hands and feet. A symbol of joy, it is used in everyday life and on festive occasions such as births and weddings.
Henna branches, leaves and paste are also included in crafts and for medicinal purposes, including the treatment of certain skin diseases. Its use is frequently accompanied by oral expressions such as chants, songs, proverbs and poems, and is linked to centuries-old societal rules and traditions. This includes knowledge related to the cultivation and care of the henna tree and the preparation and application of the paste.
Families and communities transmit the traditions through observation and hands-on practice. Today, organisations, beauty centres, universities and the media also contribute to their transmission. A key component of traditional events, the henna rituals enhance social bonds and promote communication.