Culture

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

Published

1 year 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

Netflix documentary sheds light on 30-year-old Zimbabwe school mystery

Published

15 hours ago

October 3, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

A recently released Netflix documentary titled “Encounters” has shed new light on a 30-year-old school mystery that occurred in Zimbabwe in 1994.

The extraordinary event happened in a school in the southern African country where over 60 children claimed to have seen strange beings and a Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) that landed near their playground.

The schoolchildren had described the beings as having large heads, big eyes, and wearing tight black suits, adding that they felt a telepathic communication from them, warning them about the dangers of technology and the future of the planet.

According to reports, the accounts of the students were met with scepticism and disbelief at the time, but the Netflix documentary has more or less corroborated the astonishing encounter, just as the witnesses who are all adults now have continued to maintain their stories.

The new documentary has now given them a chance to share their memories and feelings about what they saw and how it affected their lives.

The documentary, according to movie aficionados, is a groundbreaking move for Zimbabwe as the world is now set to witness the “mysterious and awe-inspiring encounters that unfolded in 1994 through the lens of a captivating Netflix documentary titled ‘Encounters.’”

“This unique film not only delves into the unexplained phenomenon that occurred at a Zimbabwean school but also showcases the nation’s rich cultural tapestry and the resilience of its people,” a media platform in the country wrote in a review of the documentary.

“Now, almost 30 years later, the Netflix documentary titled ‘Encounters’ revisits this remarkable event and tracks down the witnesses, who are now adults living in different parts of the world,” the platform wrote.

“The documentary gives them a chance to share their memories and feelings about what they saw and how it affected their lives. The film also explores the broader context of the phenomenon, featuring other cases of close encounters from around the world and interviews with experts and researchers.

“The documentary is a groundbreaking achievement for Zimbabwe, as it is the first of its kind to focus on such an event in the country. It is also a rare opportunity for the world to hear the voices of Zimbabweans who have a unique and compelling story to tell.

“The film challenges the stereotypes and prejudices that often surround Zimbabwe and its people, and invites viewers to see them in a new light. The documentary is not just a mere exploration of the paranormal but also a testament to the resilience and spirit of Zimbabwe.

“It paints a vivid picture of a nation that embraces its past, no matter how unconventional, and allows its citizens to tell their stories without fear of ridicule.

“Thanks to ‘Encounters,’ the witnesses have been tracked down and given the opportunity to revisit those perplexing moments. Their stories are now being shared with a global audience, shedding light on an event that left an indelible mark on their lives,” it added.

Culture

Spotify celebrates Nigeria’s Independence with the unveiling of three playlists

Published

2 days ago

October 2, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Global streaming platform, Spotify celebrated Nigeria’s 63rd Independence anniversary with the unveiling of three new playlists that highlight the country’s musical diversity, ranging from Fuji to the golden eras of Afrobeats.

The platform, in a post on its social media, said the playlists “provide a home for music that millions of Nigerians of all ages and persuasions have loved and listened to for decades.”

It said apart from the global growth of Afrobeats, “Nigeria is also home to a diverse musical culture, with genres of unique origins, and artists who have created iconic music across eras.”

“To highlight this, Spotify is giving a voice to some of Nigerian music’s unsung genres, its most essential decades, as well as the creators and hit songs that laid foundations for Afrobeats’ success,” it said.

According to the streaming platform, the playlists include:

The Fuji Sound

“Building on its most recent success, this playlist charts the evolution of the Fuji genre, and its most essential artists, from Kollington Ayinla to Wasiu Alabi Pasuma.”

I love my 2000s Afrobeats

“Fans of the early days of Afrobeats, and everyone else, will find nostalgia and great memories calling in the “I Love My 2000s Afrobeats” playlist”.

I love my 2010s Afrobeats

“Featuring some of the songs that kicked off the ‘Afrobeats To The World’ movement, this playlist is a mix of hits that you’ll definitely come back to.”