UNESCO Adds North African Couscous to Intangible Cultural Heritage List

"Couscous is a dish full of symbols, meanings and social and cultural dimensions, all linked to solidarity, conviviality, and the sharing of meals," the UN agency said. According to the account of the Permanent Delegation of Morocco to UNESCO, this certificate concerns the application filed on December 16 and jointly presented by Morocco, Mauritania, Tunisia and Algeria.

The paternity of this ancestral dish has always been the subject of dispute between these four countries. In September 2016, Algeria had announced the filing of a "couscous" file with UNESCO. This announcement had provoked the anger of Morocco. Subsequently, an agreement was reached between these countries. This is how in March 2019, a joint application was finally filed. The Maghreb file is entitled "Knowledge, know-how and practices related to the production of couscous", and was among about forty other applications submitted to the Committee for consideration for inscription on the 2020 List.

"Couscous, present at every social or cultural event, is both ordinary and special. Ordinary because of the frequency of its use in a family setting, and special because of the unifying and propitious role it plays in convivial community occasions where food is shared," these four countries had argued.