UNESCO Adds Couscous to Intangible Cultural Heritage List

Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and Tunisia, collectively, filed the file "Knowledge, know-how and practices related to the production and consumption of couscous". To honor couscous, the four countries have silenced their differences over the paternity of this mythical dish, made of semolina or durum wheat, served with seasoned vegetables, meat or fish.

The presentation file stressed that in the four countries, "women and men, young and old, sedentary and nomadic, from the rural or urban world, as well as from emigration, all identify" with this dish, symbol of "living together".

This joint initiative of the four countries can be a sign of an imminent political rapprochement. In September 2016, Algeria had expressed its intention to file a file with UNESCO. The idea did not fail to irritate Morocco, which claims with great arguments the paternity of this traditional dish. Fortunately, an agreement was reached, far from political differences.

Couscous is no longer just the dish of the Maghreb. It has spread a little everywhere in the world and the recipes vary according to the countries, the traditions and the tastes.