Semsemeya is a popular harp-like instrument crafted and played among communities in the Suez Canal region in Egypt and also in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Henna-centred aesthetics and rituals are practised by millions in 16 Arab countries.

Semsemeya in Port Said
 

According to heritage music professor Mohamed Shabana’s book 'The Songs of Damma, in Port Sai',  Semsemeya is a folk cord music instrument that resembles the Tanboura instrument that the Nubian workers brought with them for recreation while digging the Suez Canal in the mid-19th century.

The book documented the Damma social ritual, practised by Egyptians who dug the canal, which means “a group of people from different origins gathering.”

It also has an affinity to heritage resistance songs and popular music in the Canal trio towns in Egypt (Port Said, Suez, and Ismailia).

“Studies show the big resemblances between Semsemya and Tanboura, and Al Kanara (meaning the treasure in hieroglyphic) in music instrument that was found in Ancient Egypt's Middle Kingdom,” reads the book.

It is also worth mentioning that Semsemeya has its special folk dance originating from the sign language, created by “boat merchants” who used to come to sell their goods in their tiny boats to big canal ships.

El Semsemeya, Tanboura, & Rayess Zakaria
 

Among the people who might as well be referred to as human treasures, as per UNESCO, and one we sadly lost earlier this year, was Zakaria Ibrahim, or El-Rayes (Chief) Zakaria.

For the past 44 years, he has been one of the safeguards of El Semsemeya through the Port Said Heritage Troupe, which he established in 1980.

Henna rituals in Egypt
 

Henna is a deciduous tree that grows in 16 Arab countries, including UAE, Algeria, and Egypt, to name but a few.

According to UNESCO’s webpage, Henna paste is commonly used by women for adornment, such as to dye hair and fingertips or to decorate hands and feet. 

It symbolizes joy and is used daily and on festive occasions, such as births and weddings. 

Henna branches, leaves, and paste are also used in crafts and for medicinal purposes, including treating certain skin diseases. Its use is frequently accompanied by chants, song anchors, proverbs, and poems and is linked to centuries-old societal rules and traditions.

The listings are Egypt’s 10th ICH element to be registered with UNESCO.

In 2023, Egypt and UNESCO celebrated 20 years since adopting the 2003 Convention of Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage. Throughout this time, Egypt managed to enlist 10 Egyptian Intangible Cultural Heritage Elements: 

Al-Sirah Al-Helalya (The Epic of Beni Helal) in 2008

 Tahteeb (stick art) in 2016

Aragouz puppetry in 2018

• Knowledge and traditions affiliated with palm trees in 2019

• Manual-textile industry in Upper Egypt in 2020

•  Arabic calligraphy knowledge skills and practice (joint file with other Arab countries) in 2021

• The palm tree, its related knowledge, skills, traditions, and practices related to the palm tree (joint file) in 2021

• Journey of the Holy Family Festival in 2022