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

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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.

Culture

South African amputee dancer, Musa Motha dazzles at ‘Britain’s Got Talent’

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South African amputee dancer, Musa Motha has entered the history books at the “Britain’s Got Talent” reality show after leaving the judges and audience in emotional tangles with his highly emotional contemporary dance piece.

The 27-year-old Motha, who had his left leg amputated as a young boy after he suffered from cancer, danced his way into the hearts of the judges and audience.

It was goosebumps and tears as the South African amputee made his way into the semi-finals at the “Britain’s Got Talent” auditions
show after the audience demanded he got a Golden Buzzer.

The electrifying dancer performed a four-minute piece to “Runnin’ (Lose It All)”, featuring Beyoncé and Arrow Benjamin and it was enough for the judges and audience.

Motha m, who moved to London from his native Sebokeng in South Africa few years ago, was highly praised by judges, Bruno Tonioli, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden, and Simon Cowell, who had glowing words for him after making the semi-finals.

The judges’ attempts to comment on his performance were inaudible as the crowd continued to cheer and demand a Golden Buzzer.

At that juncture, all four judges pushed the buzzer together, showering an emotional Motha with golden confetti before they went to the stage to congratulate him.

While congratulating Motha, Cowell said:

“That was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen in all the years I’ve done this show.”

Speaking after the rapturous applause, Motha said that he used to play soccer before he was diagnosed with cancer and subsequently lost his leg.

He then fell in love with music and his friends taught him how to dance, using his crutch in the place of his amputated leg.

“I asked my friends to teach me to dance. I use my crutches as my left leg in dance,” he said.

“I was diagnosed with cancer when I was young, which led to my leg getting amputated. This is a perfect time for me to reach out and inspire more people.

“I’m a true believer and example of breaking the word ‘impossible’ into to ‘I am possible’. I thank you so much.”

Watch the video here:

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Egyptian archaeologists discover ancient human, animal embalming workshops

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Egyptian archaeologists
have announced the discoveries of ancient human and animal embalming workshops at the Saqqara necropolis in the south of Cairo.

Head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, who made the disclosure on Saturday, said the new discoveries included two human and animal embalming workshops, as well as the tombs of two priests.

“We found two big workshops, one for human and then used in mummifying animals, while the second workshop is for humans only, we found also beds, mummification tools, and materials,” Waziri said.

“During the excavation we also found a tomb that belonged to Ne Hesut Ba, a priest who served in the fifth dynasty of the old kingdom, 4,500 years ago.”

The Supreme Council of Antiquities recently unveiled a string of major archaeological discoveries which Waziri said were key components of Egypt’s attempts to revive its vital tourism industry.

Mohamed Youssef, the Director of the Saqqara Archaeological site, who also spoke on the discoveries, said it was the first of such discoveries.

“This is the first time we discovered embalming workshops in Saqqara, associated with the temples.

“All the previous embalming workshops were related to Apis, the old Egyptian God of fertility and death, in Memphis which is part of Giza governorate now.

“That means it is an important discovery to have found embalming workshops here in Saqqara.

“We also found many statues representing the masterpieces of the art in the old kingdom which date back 4,500 years, and we also discovered antiquities and pieces dating back 3,300 years that represent the new kingdom, plus some jewellery and accessories.

“Also, we found cheese made by ancient Egyptians who used to store it in pottery jars and put it behind the dead.”

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