Home Intangible Cultural Heritage Mahadra, a Community System for Transmission of Traditional Knowledge and Oral Expressions
  • Mahadra, a Community System for Transmission of Traditional Knowledge and Oral Expressions

  • Mahadra, a Community System for Transmission of Traditional Knowledge and Oral Expressions

    Mahadra, known as "the university of the desert", is a vital Mauritanian educational system where traditional knowledge, including literature, religious sciences, and practical skills like navigation by stars, is passed down. Mahadra is held under tents and is considered an open and inclusive space fostering community, trust, and social cohesion.
    In addition, it plays a crucial role in preserving Mauritanian poetry and storytelling, enhancing cultural identity and continuity.
    Mahadra, a Community System for Transmission of Traditional Knowledge and Oral Expressions was inscribed in 2023 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Mauritania.
    Intangible Heritage
    by Ferdinand Reus, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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    Mahadra, a Community System for Transmission of Traditional Knowledge and Oral Expressions

    Date of Inscription

    2023