02/09/2020 by Elie Saad Light by itself had always guided us and served as a beacon both physically and spiritually. From the dawn of time and up until our modern civilization, the night sky has always fascinated mankind. This grimdark sheet, punctuated by tiny light rays beaming hundreds of thousands of light-years away, nurtured our...
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How Covid-19 is affecting our Intangible heritage
29/07/2020 by Ala’a Baroun, Observer from Kuweit The new restrictions, social distancing, curfews and lockdowns imposed around the world in response to the pandemic highlighted how intangible heritage has a social, economic and psychological role in our lives. Ala’a Baroun We are living in a time where a pandemic has largely impacted our lives in...
The role of Dabkeh for Refugees in Diaspora as a promoter of Palestinian-Syrian intangible heritage
26th June 2020 by Shyrine Ziadeh “It is our folklore, from my culture, my heritage. In the camp in Syria, while I used to dance Dabkeh I was a happy kid… Oh this music! It reminded me of the inner peace I had back then.” Said Israa a lady in her 20’s, during a break...
Archaeological Heritage: From War to Safety
Le 24/06/2020 by Muntadher Aloda « Come, I will take you to Uruk, to the sacred temple, home of Anu and Ishtar, where Gilgamesh is perfect in strength, like a wild bull lording it over the menfolk. » The Epic of Gilgamesh I was raised near ancient cities, loved the dust of the surrounding deserts and held...
Dabke : from Social Dance to Political Stance
Le 09/06/2020 by Sarah Amawi What was Dabke? What was Dabke? Dabka (also spelled dabkeh, dabka, dubki, and with the plural, dabkaat) could be defined as : « a circling folk dance made up of intricate steps and stomps » (Rowe, 2011) [1]. « Once such origin may have developed from Canaanite fertility rites wherein communities joined in the energetic foot stomping dance to...
Park to Parking: The socio-spatial evolution of Beirut’s Martyrs square
Le 21/05/2020 by Elie Saad « In architecture school, or any other design & arts school, when having difficulties drawing a perceptive of a certain shape, we put it in a box. The pure geometrical square sides of the box simplify the object and its spatial interpretation. Nevertheless, not all squares reflect simplified visions. Some squares...
Inside Story : being an actor of heritage in Libya
30/04/2020 by Reem H. Furjani Growing up abroad to my grandparents’ narratives about an enchanting Medina of Tripoli in its earlier thrive, my imagination was animated: Behind the fountains of the courtyards laid the ladies adorned in silk and gold, in the shade reciting folk between sips of minted tea, and the scent of jasmine...
The Majlis in the Arabian Peninsula: a social and cultural space
Le 04/12/2019 by Omar Babakhouya “Al Majalis Madaris” says the Arab proverb, meaning “the Majalis are schools”. The Majlis, singular of Majalis, literally means “space where we sit”, an assembly or a council. This traditional practice, widespread in the Arabian Peninsula, consists in gathering a group of people in a host’s Majlis. In that region,...
Heritage under threat in Libya
24/03/2020 by Reem Furjani, local Observer Since many whom I have tried speaking to in December and January 2020 about protecting the heritage of Tripoli from war have ignored the threat, it is ironic to see surprise about the rocket that fell in the Medina this 20th March 2020. Not much damage but is an...
Heritage under threat in Yemen
Le 05/03/2020 by Ayoub Amer, local observer What are the key challenges? Due to the accelerating events in our country, the armed conflict that is renewed from time to time, those interested and active in the field of protecting the tangible and intangible cultural heritage face many great challenges, most notably : – The absence...