KHARTOUM, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese Jirtig wedding ritual was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during the 20th session of its Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, held from Monday to Saturday in New Delhi, India.
Local experts said the decision underscores Sudanese cultural identity, particularly amid the ongoing civil war, which has led to widespread deaths, displacement, and posed a threat to the country's cultural heritage.
Rather than a wedding ritual, the Jirtig is a symbolic celebration rooted in ancient traditions, some of which can be traced back to Pharaonic origins, and remains a social and spiritual tradition that reflects community values of good fortune, joy, and fertility.
The ceremony unfolds in several stages: decorating the venue, welcoming the couple, applying the traditional aromatic mixture dareera, burning incense, and performing the milk ritual, in which the couple drinks and lightly sprinkles milk on each other. The groom then cuts a red thread tied around the bride's waist, marking a symbolic transition. The event typically concludes with songs and folk dances accompanied by the dalouka, a traditional clay drum.
Khalid Ali Aleisir, the country's minister of culture, information, and tourism, said in a statement on Thursday that the inclusion of the Jirtig in the intangible cultural heritage list represents international recognition of Sudanese culture and protection of its authentic heritage.
He emphasized that the listing reflects the beauty and depth of the Sudanese spirit, adding, "The significance of this inclusion is magnified amid a war that threatens heritage and customs, making the preservation of Sudan's cultural identity a national and global responsibility at the same time."
Sudanese heritage expert and professor of cultural studies, Mutaz Abdel Halim, said that Jirtig's inclusion on the list serves as an "international shield for protecting Sudanese heritage" at a time when it faces serious threats.
He explained that the war has displaced communities that preserve ancient traditions and weakened the social fabric that allows popular rituals to thrive, making documentation and international protection an urgent necessity.
The UNESCO decision is a recognition that Sudanese heritage is a part of shared human history, and safeguarding it is tantamount to preserving the history of an entire people, he added.
Echoing Halim's perspective, Sudanese heritage researcher Salwa Mohamed said that the inclusion of the Jirtig represents international recognition of the ritual's significance and emphasizes the urgent need to protect heritage from the ravages of war.
"Culture can be a source of resistance and resilience, enabling society to preserve its identity and history," she told Xinhua.
Sudan remains engulfed in a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which erupted in April 2023. The war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, led to the destruction of cultural centers, museums, and libraries, and placed many heritage sites at risk. ■
