The Committee

1. Takes note that Mauritania has nominated Mahadra, a community system for transmission of traditional knowledge and oral expressions (No. 01960) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

Mahadra, sometimes called ‘the university of the desert’, is a community framework for education and socialization in which traditional knowledge and literary expressions are transmitted, mainly through listening and memorization. Dating back centuries, it has become a key feature of Mauritanian society and has led to the reproduction, recreation and continuation of Mauritanian popular culture. The classes take place under a tent, covered with mats or carpets and cushions on the floor. Mahadra is open and available to everyone, regardless of gender, age or social background. The topics covered include language and traditional literature, religious sciences and Sufism. Students also acquire knowledge about nature and the universe, including knowledge about rain, the desert, medicinal plants, animal tracks and using stars for navigation. A transmission system in and of itself, mahadra is characterized by community commitment and trust and is based on a moral and social contract between the teachers and their students. Rooted in Mauritanian society and based on oral communication, it is a form of expression that promotes socialization, communication, integration and social cohesion. It is also intricately linked to the transmission of Mauritanian poetry and storytelling, providing a sense of continuity, belonging and shared cultural identity for the communities concerned.

2. Considers that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

R.2:   The popularity of the element and its intersection with other expressions of living heritage in Mauritania would help increase the visibility of intangible cultural heritage in general. It would also encourage other bearer-communities to focus more on safeguarding their living heritage. Nationally, events celebrating the inscription would provide opportunities for associations, bearers and practitioners of intangible cultural heritage to meet, present their elements and discuss safeguarding experiences. At the international level, communities would realize the importance of traditional spaces in the practice of intangible cultural heritage, renewing public interest in the associated structures and the need to integrate them into safeguarding projects. Inscription would also recognize the values of dialogue, exchange and solidarity of Mahadra, while fostering respect for cultural diversity.

R.3:   The viability of the element is being maintained through its practice and transmission, with a large amount of current Mahadras having been created in the last three decades through community, group and individual efforts. The communities, groups and individuals concerned have provided financial and logistical assistance and have made ample use of the element as a means of learning and transmitting traditional knowledge and oral expressions. The State provides financial and logistical support to the element. Proposed safeguarding measures include actions aimed at transmission, documentation, research, financial support, awareness-raising, promotion and enhancement. The file explains that stakeholders, including scholars and sheikhs, were engaged in the identification of the safeguarding measures and will be involved in their implementation.

R.4:   The file demonstrates the participation of the communities concerned in the nomination process through various meetings and events that have taken place since 2016. The file describes the process of the elaboration of the nomination file while stressing that every attempt was made to ensure the participation of the stakeholders. Letters attesting to the free, prior and informed consent of several Mahadras to the nomination are attached.

R.5:   The element was listed on the National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage on 10 March 2022. The inventory is maintained by the Department of Islamic Affairs and Formal Education and the National Conservation of Heritage. The Department of Culture, through the National Conservation of Heritage, carried out fieldwork throughout the country, identifying the element with the participation of the communities, groups and individuals concerned. All parties concerned - including Sheikhs, learners and the general population - participated in identifying and defining the element. The inventory is updated every four years, and the next update is scheduled for 2024.

3. Further considers that, from the information included in the file, and the information provided by the submitting State through the dialogue process, the nomination satisfies the following criterion for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

R.1:   Mahadra is a traditional community framework for education and socialization. It is one of the major features of Mauritanian society, through which Mauritanian popular culture is transmitted. It provides a free framework for communication, promoting harmony between the individual and their social and natural environment, through sharing and exchange. Mahadra is open and available to everyone, regardless of gender, age or social background. The involvement of women in the element is strong. The bearers and practitioners include learners from all social groups, the Sheikhs or the teachers who provide instruction, and the administrative stakeholders running the Mahadra. In this physical and social setting created by the communities themselves, the knowledge and skills are transmitted and reproduced culturally, through learning and experimentation. The system exists as a complement to the modern school system. Its social functions include providing a space for socialization, fostering communication between communities, and promoting social cohesion.

4. Decides to inscribe Mahadra, a community system for transmission of traditional knowledge and oral expressions on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
5. Commends the State Party for the submission of an improved file following the decision of the Committee to refer the file in 2021.