Algeria and Morocco Clash Over UNESCO Recognition of Raï Music Heritage
Algeria accuses Morocco of wanting to "steal" raï, which would be an element of its heritage that it wants to register as world intangible heritage with UNESCO. The two countries continue to dispute the paternity of this popular musical genre.
The Algerian Minister of Culture has decided to file a file with UNESCO to classify "raï, Algerian popular song". Wafaa Chaalalle confirmed in an interview with the daily Al-Hiwar that the "Al-Rai" and "Al-Madhat" files are in the process of being categorized, as well as other files, without however providing further information. On the Moroccan side, the organizers of the Oujda International Raï Festival wish that this "Moroccan popular song" be classified as world intangible heritage by UNESCO, and are fighting for it.
Stressing that there has been a recent Moroccan media campaign aimed at classifying "Tbourida" on the representative list of the intangible heritage of UNESCO, the official indicated that it is a kind of equestrian fantasy, for which Algeria had previously classified two similar elements with UNESCO in 2013 and 2015.
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