Semsemiah: Instrument Crafting and Playing

Semsemiah is a popular harp-like musical instrument traditionally crafted and played by communities in the Suez Canal and Red Sea regions. Its body is attached to three wooden poles forming a triangular shape, and it is often made by the players themselves using natural or reused materials such as wood and metal.
The instrument is played by musicians, singers, sailors, fishermen, and others connected with coastal and maritime life. It appears in concerts, weddings, holidays, football celebrations, and cultural festivals.
The skills of making and playing the semsemiah are passed down informally through families, communities, bands, master players, and craftspeople, while workshops, training courses, and social media also support its transmission. Closely linked to the sea, semsemiah music strengthens social cohesion, shared expression, and community gatherings.

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Semsemiah: Instrument Crafting and Playing was inscribed in 2024 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Egypt, Saudi Arabia.