Palestinian Dabkeh stomps the ground of UNESCO

Amira Noshokaty , Wednesday 6 Dec 2023

The world celebrates the traditional Palestinian Dabkeh as UNESCO adds it to the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

UNESCO
Dabkeh tradional dance of Palestine, enlisted on UNESCO's world heritage list. Photo UNESCO

 

On Tuesday, Dabkeh, a Palestinian popular group dance, was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The dance is usually accompanied by traditional wind instruments and popular singing and is performed at celebrations and festivals in Palestine. Dabkeh, as described by the official UNESCO website, is performed by a group of 11 people, regardless of gender, who all stand in a straight line or semicircle clasping hands and shoulders to indicate cohesion. The movements include jumping and stomping the ground with their feet. It is a means of expressing cultural identity.

In September 2023, the United Nations Cultural Organization Conference (UNESCO) voted to list the ancient West Bank city of Jericho as a World Heritage Site in Palestine. The modern city of Jericho is a major draw for tourism to the Palestinian territories, because of both its historical sites and proximity to the Dead Sea.

In 2021, the Palestinian Authority unveiled major renovations to one of the largest mosaics in the Middle East, a Jericho palace dating back to the eighth century.

The art of Palestinian embroidery was added by UNESCO to the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021. Palestinian embroidery is a rich realm that involves an average of 15 different traditional costume types, each reflecting a specific district in Palestine.

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