The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added the Moroccan art of "Malhoun" to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A statement from the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication noted that the organization "approved Morocco's request to include the Malhoun art in the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity."
This addition is considered "an international recognition of an authentic Moroccan heritage, a significant contribution to the rich artistic tributaries of Morocco, and a reference component of Morocco's ancient cultural identity." Malhoun consists of poems in Moroccan folk verse or popular poetry written in the Moroccan dialect and sung in a traditional folk manner. Researchers indicate that its original homeland is the Tafilelt oases in southeastern Morocco, drawing roots from Sufi brotherhoods before it later developed and spread to all regions of Morocco. The term Malhoun is derived from the word "melody," representing a blend of folk poetry and distinctive melody. The ministry stated that with the inclusion of Malhoun, Morocco now has "13 elements registered in the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO."
