launch in Rabat of the “Moroccan Heritage” Label

A launch ceremony of the “Moroccan Heritage” Label to promote the national cultural heritage was organized on Monday in Rabat, in the presence of the political, intellectual and diplomatic elite of the capital.

During this gala ceremony initiated by the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication as part of the launch of “Heritage Month”, the Minister in charge, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid signed a decision ministerial aiming to label the national heritage, pending the finalization of a decree on the subject.

Thus, this event, which kicked off at the botanical garden of Rabat, aims to certify, list and inventory the sumptuous heritage as well as the material and immaterial national know-how, able to protect them from covetousness and repeated attempts at appropriation.

This baptism, which opened the ball of cultural events that were to take place across the twelve regions of the Kingdom during this “Heritage Month”, celebrated from April 18 to May 18, also aims to enhance the heritage according to the particularities cultures of each region.

In line with the implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the ministry launched several anthropological studies last year. Hence a taxonomy of heritage has been brought to light, in the wake of actions aimed at promoting this heritage.

From craftsmanship, through traditional know-how, gastronomy, without forgetting sewing and the arts of all categories, as well as oral traditions, the inventory of intangible heritage has for a long time breathed the richness and the diversity.

“Heritage month is an ideal opportunity to relaunch the tourism economy by promoting our unique cultural product, through an open program, thus allowing all Moroccans to explore their heritage, capable of transforming archaeological sites in spaces for meeting, dialogue and discussion“, underlined Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid in a speech for the occasion.

Dwelling on the program of this edition, the Minister reported more than 86 guided tours of monuments and historic sites, 18 workshops for students, 11 artistic events, 29 video sequences to discover the national heritage inside and outside the Kingdom, as well as face-to-face and virtual conferences and workshops.

Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid highlighted certain structuring projects and measures adopted by his department to promote and protect national heritage, in particular the creation of the “Moroccan Heritage” Label, as well as the implementation of a project to digitize all historical sites. .

The use of the 3D imaging technique will make it easier for the experts in their restoration operations, he noted, reporting on the launch of the “Route des Empires” electronic application in partnership with the Embassy of France and the “Jacques Berque” Centre, which aims to digitize historic sites and allow users to take a 3D virtual tour of several of these sites.

The Minister did not fail to highlight Franco-Moroccan cooperation in this context and with other international partners, who participate in the safeguarding of the national heritage and support Morocco in its modernization and restoration.

In addition, presentations were made during this ceremony by French and Moroccan archaeologists reviewing archaeological sites being rehabilitated or recently discovered using the latest techniques in excavation and restoration.

Morocco was elected last March to chair UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage Committee for the year 2022, where it will chair the 17th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the UN organization. which will be held from November 28 to December 3, 2022.

The 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage defines five areas in which ICH can manifest itself, namely: “oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vector of cultural heritage”, “arts entertainment”, “social practices, rituals and festive events”, “knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe” and “know-how related to traditional craftsmanship”.

Took part in this Ramadan cultural evening, the Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Ghita Mezzour, the Director General of the Islamic World Organization for Education, Science and Culture ( ICESCO) Salim M. Al Malik, as well as other Moroccan officials and foreign diplomats accredited to Morocco.