Culture

Historian wants UNESCO to consider Moroccan ceramic skills as intangible cultural heritage

Published

2 years ago

May 1, 2022

A historian and curator at a national museum in Morocco, Said Chemsi said the Moroccan government hopes to submit an application to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to consider the ceramic skills of the city Safi as an intangible cultural heritage at some point in the future.

Safi was the site of Operation Blackstone, one of the landing sites for Operation Torch during the Second World War. The beautiful city of Safi is in western Morocco on the Atlantic Ocean in the capital of Asfi Province.

“…contributes to the marketing of ceramic products internationally. That prompted the Ministry of Culture to prepare a file in order to classify the ceramic skills of Safi as an intangible heritage on the UNESCO list,” says Chemsi.

A potter based in the city, known for its colourful ceramics, Mohamed Sentil Rbati has said the geology around the city gives it an edge advantage and access to plenty of raw materials.

Rbati was quoted in a report on africannews.com that “the clay of the city of Safi is famous worldwide thanks to the raw materials that we have here, and this makes it an easy material to knead, and when we work on it, it is very flexible, and this material is available in the city of Safi and it is easy to obtain.”

Rbati has worked as a potter since 1972, in a small workshop where his grandparents worked for nine generations. Many artisans like Rbati shun modern techniques and technology in favour of traditional methods.

“We, as potters in Safi, are proud because we still adhere to the traditional and simple ways of working and this method we inherited from our ancestors, and despite the fact that we are in the era of technology, but people always encourage these traditional ways of working, whether in the matter of kneading clay or mixing colours,” Rbati said.

Although the city has chemical (phosphate-based) and food-processing industries located nearby to the south, it is best known for its pottery.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the governorate of Marrakesh-Safi signed an agreement in 2018 that was designed to improve the business climate and bolster the competitiveness of local enterprises, part of an effort to create jobs and drive economic growth in the region.

Related Topics:ceramics Featured Morocco Safi

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Culture

Crocodiles eat South African man during hunt in Zimbabwe

Published

20 hours ago

September 9, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A 44-year-old South African man, Scott van Zyl, has been eaten by crocodiles after he went missing during a safari hunt in Zimbabwe.

Authorities say van Zyl who owns a professional hunting company in South Africa, reportedly disappeared on Friday on the banks of the Limpopo River in Zimbabwe.

Local media reports that the dogs he was hunting with returned without him and his rifle and personal items were intact in his pickup truck while a search team traced his tracks to the banks of the river and found his backpack.

“Police and park authorities decided to shoot two suspected Nile crocodiles and found what could possibly be human remains in them”, a member of the search party told reporters.

“The remains are reportedly being tested by forensic experts to verify if they belong to Scott van Zyl,” a Zimbabwean tabloid reported.

“Crocodile attacks are common near river banks with at least four people killed in Zimbabwe in the past month. In March, a 19-year-old Mozambican football player Estevao Alberto Gino was killed by a crocodile along the Zambezi river in western Mozambique.

“The crocodile came out of the water abruptly and took him by the waist. After that, the animal ran back into the water.”

Culture

Algeria to host Afreximbank’s CANEX 2024

Published

3 days ago

September 7, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced that the 2024 edition of its Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX 2024) will hold in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, with the theme, “One People, United in Culture.”

According to a statement from the bank, the CANEX 2024, which is a premier event that showcases Africa’s vibrant creative and cultural industries, will be the major focus of the four-day event taking place from October 16-19.

“CANEX 2024 offers a unique platform for creatives from across the continent and beyond, to showcase their work, network with industry leaders, and explore business opportunities, including exhibitions, roundtable discussions, masterclasses, live performances, gastronomy showcases, music, dance, poetry, and other artistic expressions,” the statement said.

“Since the event was launched in 2020, it had committed a $1bn facility for Africa’s creative and cultural industries, and has deployed specialised products for financing some CCI sectors, including the Film Financing Development Facility and the Music Development facility.

“The bank has also identified key gaps in creative production value chains, and created interventions to bridge those gaps, with a focus on access to markets.

“The event will be a gathering of creatives, investors, and industry professionals from across the continent and the world over.

“CANEX WKND 2024 will feature an exhibition and market, roundtable discussions, masterclasses, live performances, and networking opportunities. The event is open to industry professionals, individuals, corporate investors, and governance bodies. It provides a unique platform for creatives to showcase their work, connect with industry leaders, and explore business and investment opportunities,” the statement added.