Algeria has electronically submitted a file to register “The Art of Adorning Kabyle Women’s Clothing with Enamel Silver Jewelry: Crafting, Tailoring, and Wearing” on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, according to a Wednesday statement from the Ministry of Culture and Arts.
This step, the statement notes, reflects “Algeria’s ongoing efforts to protect and promote its tangible and intangible cultural heritage.” On Sunday, Minister of Culture and Arts Zouheir Ballou oversaw the submission ceremony at the National Center for Prehistoric, Anthropological, and Historical Research in Algiers, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad, and African Affairs, following established procedures.
The nomination builds on Algeria’s successes, having registered eight national elements with UNESCO, the latest being “The Ceremonial Women’s Attire of Eastern Algeria” (qandoura, melhafa, kaftan, and accompanying traditional jewelry). Additionally, five shared heritage elements with Arab and African countries affirm Algeria’s leadership in preserving living cultural heritage and showcasing its rich legacy globally.
The file was prepared by a broad team including cultural directorates, institutions, museums, university researchers, artisans, traditional tailors, jewelers, and civil society associations, coordinated by the National Research Center, ensuring readiness for UNESCO’s annual March 31 deadline.
The ministry is also finalizing a general inventory of other proposed elements, such as Algerian musical styles across regions and traditional men’s and women’s attire from central and southern areas, currently under study for future UNESCO submissions, adhering to the one-file-per-year system. http://dzwatch.dz.
