The Committee
- Takes note that Yemen has nominated Hadrami Dan gathering (No. 02232) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
Hadrami Dan is a traditional performance and community gathering that combines spontaneous poetry, music and dance, widespread practiced across Hadhramaut Governorate. A typical Hadrami Dan gathering includes at least one singer and poet, with the audience seated in rows or circles. The performance begins with the rhythmic chanting of the word dan, set to a chosen melody. A poet then improvises a verse that complements the melody. The verse is followed by others, created and performed by the same poet or by other participants. The melodies, called ‘aswat’, vary in rhythm and tone and can be played using traditional and modern instruments like ouds, flutes, violins and traditional drums.
- 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: This cultural practice is often accompanied by food and tea, creating a warm, communal atmosphere. It involves many roles, from the performers and the writers who record the lyrics, to the costume makers, tea makers, organizers and technical crews who support the gathering. Hadrami Dan is practised by people of all ages and genders and is passed down informally through families and community events, as well as through training in cultural centres and the media. In addition to being a source of income for practitioners, the gatherings foster social cohesion, mutual understanding and dialogue.
R.2: The nomination clearly demonstrates the importance of the element for building and maintaining peace and social cohesion, by facilitating open communication and collective problem solving at the community level. It also promotes linguistic and poetic skills in the local Arabic dialect, also improving quality education and encouraging women’s artistic expression. Furthermore, Hadrami Dan performances generate job opportunities for artists and event organizers. The inscription of the element would enhance visibility of intangible cultural heritage and create opportunities for dialogue within the global community, especially in terms of traditional music and poetry.
R.3: The community actively participated in the process of identifying and defining the element, as well as in the preparation of its safeguarding plan. The safeguarding measures address the transmission of knowledge, the organization of events, and the revitalization of the element. Research, inventory and documentation activities are also planned.
R.4: The nomination was conceived by the community of Al-Dan practitioners in 2019 and supported by the State Party in subsequent years. After workshops and meetings organized to discuss the issue, a committee was created to coordinate the nomination process. Composed of young and experienced practitioners, researchers and individuals from various professions, including three women, this committee sought to ensure equity, diversity and social inclusion throughout the process.
R.5: The element was included in the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism List in 2019, and in the Hadhramut Culture Foundation Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory List in 2022. The community of practitioners voluntarily participated in the inventory and information update processes in 2019, 2022 and 2024, in a collaborative way.
- Decides to inscribe Hadrami Dan gathering on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
- Commends the State Party for ensuring women’s participation in the process of preparing the nomination of an element whose public expressions are predominantly male;
- Encourages the State Party to seek ways to ensure the protection of the strong communal and spiritual dimensions of Al-Dan, preventing risks associated with the inscription, such as potential overexposure and commodification of the element.