Home UNESCO Lists Intangible Cultural Heritage Malhun, a Popular Poetic and Musical Art

Malhun, a Popular Poetic and Musical Art

Malhun, a Popular Poetic and Musical Art

Malhun is a cherished Moroccan poetic form backed by traditional instruments like the lute, violin, rebab, and drums. It covers a wide range of topics from love and joy to social and political issues, embedding moral lessons and fostering unity among Moroccans.
Malhun is historically taught through informal apprenticeships, and it now also spreads through organizations, conservatories, and publications. Enjoyed by all genders, malhun significantly influences Moroccan culture, serving as both a creative outlet and a historical document, celebrated in various settings, including festivals, and enhancing social cohesion.

Malhun, a Popular Poetic and Musical Art was inscribed in 2023 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Morocco.
by Ismael zniber, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Malhun, a Popular Poetic and Musical Art

Date of Inscription

2023