The Committee

1. Takes note that Djibouti, Comoros, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Jordan, Mauritania and Somalia have nominated The zaffa in the traditional wedding (No. 02283) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

The zaffa is a traditional bridal procession that marks a couple’s transition from single to married life. It involves rituals, music, dance and a festive gathering. The zaffa begins with careful preparations. The bride undergoes cleansing rituals and applies henna, while special clothes, jewellery and other adornments are prepared for both the bride and groom. During the ceremony, symbolic acts are performed to protect the couple and bless their union. These vary according to practising communities and may include drinking milk, cracking an egg or wearing a relative’s cape.

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.1:   The element involves a procession featuring music, joyful shouts and the throwing of sweets and flowers. The zaffa brings people together, uniting family, friends and the broader community. The related rituals and social practices convey shared cultural values and meanings within each community. People of different ages participate, with community elders ensuring respect for tradition, mothers preparing all stages of the process, and youth accompanying the bride and groom. Artists and craftspeople contribute songs, dances, clothing and decorations. Transmission occurs both informally, through participation and learning within the community, and formally, through schools, workshops and cultural programmes. The zaffa strengthens social bonds, promotes hospitality and supports community solidarity. It also provides a platform for artistic expression and celebration.

R.2:   The marriage ritual serves as a pivotal mechanism for mobilising all members of the community, encompassing both men and women. This ritual not only facilitates social interaction but also underscores its fundamental role as a catalyst for social cohesion within the community. In this way, the element contributes to gender equality, through equal participation of men and women in all stages of the ritual; and to peace and social cohesion, by promoting the equality of all members of the communities and thereby creating a dynamic that fosters socialization, regardless of age or social status. The nomination also reveals that the element supports decent work and economic growth by providing income opportunities for artisans, performers and service providers, and contributes to good health and well-being through its recreational, joyful atmosphere, which encourages intergenerational interaction and emotional well-being.

R.3:   The measures proposed to safeguard the element are ensured by a series of measures defined by the commitment of the communities concerned and government bodies. These include research and publications by academics, preservation efforts and exhibitions by museums, awareness-raising, workshops by non-governmental organizations, and promotional programmes and activities by the media and local councils.

R.4:   The submitting States Party have demonstrated the participation of the communities, groups and individuals concerned in the nomination process. The file includes the stages involved in each participant’s individual state. Free, prior and informed consent was obtained from the communities concerned through various methods, ensuring that all participants were aware of the significance of the nomination and gave their full approval. The communities’ contributions are described in detail, along with the role and functioning of a steering committee that coordinated efforts throughout the development of the file.

R.5:   The element was included in the inventories of the intangible cultural heritage present in the territories of Djibouti, Comoros, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Jordan, Mauritania and Somalia. The information provided includes the names of the inventories, the names of the bodies responsible for maintaining and updating those inventories, the reference numbers and names of the element in the relevant inventories, and the dates of inclusion of the element in the inventories. Documentary evidence demonstrating that the nominated element is included in the inventories of the intangible cultural heritage present in the territories of Djibouti, Comoros, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Jordan, Mauritania and Somalia is also provided.

3. Decides to inscribe The zaffa in the traditional wedding on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
4. Commends the States Parties for their broad international cooperation in preparing the multinational file and engaging new countries in the process of preparing nomination files for the first time, as well as in collaborating with other countries to accumulate experience.