Imzad, Rakb on List of Intangible Heritage of Humanity

Music instrument Imzad and the annual pilgrimage to the mausoleum of Sidi Cheikh "Rakb" inscription on Wednesday the Unesco on the on the Representative List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity rewards the efforts deployed by Algeria for the preservation of its endangered cultural heritage. This inscription by the UNESCO Inter-governmental Committee, during its 8th session from 2 to 7 December in Baku (Azerbaijan) reinforces Algeria’s efforts for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage at risk in all Algerian regions and even in neighboring countries. The listing of Imzad, several thousand year old musical but also poetic heritage and exclusively feminine craft concerns the classification of a oral traditions and a common language to no less than five African countries: Algeria, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad. Through its cultural institutions, including the Office of the National park of Ahaggar (Opna), Algeria is working, for five years, to list and register all the practices related to Imzad, at risk of enforced disappearance. As for it, the pilgrimage "Rakb" to the mausoleum of Sidi Cheikh, an event which attracts every year, thousands of people in southwest Algeria, includes mystical practices and dances, including the "Saf" and "A’laoui" and equestrian and fencing games. These classifications come after that of the "Ahalil Gourara," a mystical music from southern Algeria, and "Chedda" (wedding dress) of from Tlemcen, inscribed in UNESCO heritage in 2008 and 2012 respectively, bringing to four the number of Algerian intangible cultural practices classified.