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Background to the project : the UNESCO proclamation for OICH
The proclamation
of the tribes of Southern Jordan oral as a
living masterpiece of intangible cultural heritage recognises the nomadic Bedu
communities of Al Sharah and Wadi Rum.
The expressions that were the subject of the candidature include
storytelling, poetry, song, proverbs, sayings, mythology, traditional medicine,
shepherding language, sounds of communication, honour, legal and desert
tracking codes, hospitality and knowledge of the craft of tent making and
settlement.
The oral expressions of the Bedu of Al Sharah and
Wadi Rum are intimately connected to the particular physical space that these
tribes inhabit and the cycles of time through which they are expressed: the
cycle of the seasons in the year, the life cycle of the individual Bedu, and the
cycle of daily life. Together these
cycles constitute the overall cycle of the nomadic Bedu way of life: its
emergence, flourishing and, regrettably, its recent decline.
It is now recognised that the lifestyle of the
nomadic Bedu is changing rapidly and that significant effort is required to
preserve its rich complexity for future generations. The Jordanian Commission for Oral and
Intangible Heritage played a key role in ensuring that oral expressions of the Bedu of Al Sharah and
Wadi Rum were proclaimed as an oral and intangible heritage of humanity.
Their OICH is expressed , for example, through
traditional knowledge and skills comprise of:
Tent-making craftsmanship;
Rituals of coffee and hospitality;
Camel husbandry;
Naming and navigation, tracking and climbing skills;
Knowledge related to the flora and fauna of the area,
traditional medicine and rain-making.
Their cultural expressions include: songs, poetry,
story telling and dance
The value system that underpins the OICH of the bedu
tribes is one of pride and honour,
hospitality, reciprocity and trust. The tribes demonstrate an ability to live
in harmony with their environment and use
local resources sustainably. Women among bedu tribes have a role of equal
importance with men.
The 2004 national census reveals that the total number of nomads in Jordan is now only 10,336 -
representing 0.2% of the population.
However, the percentage among southern regions is higher than average at
1.8%. The fact that the majority of the remaining nomadic Bedu are to be found
in the south reflects the relative strength of the values and traditions
there.
It is also recognised that within these communities,
the people are mostly old. Unlike their
children, they are unable or otherwise unwilling to adapt to the norms of a
modern settled society. Caught between
the harsh world of the desert and a modern world they do not understand, these
aged Bedu continue to live the only way they know how. They roam the desert with their often modest
herds of livestock, beit al sha'ar (tent), and meagre utensils. They also carry with them a wealth of
intangible heritage and traditional knowledge, which may be intangible but
which represents an immense store of cultural value for all Bedu people.
Unfortunately, most of the expert practitioners of
these OICH forms and expressions are elderly.
Their knowledge will be lost unless urgent action is taken to identify,
record, document, celebrate and disseminate widely to ensure that is passed on
to the next generation as a living culture. The JOHUD project addresses this
issue - helping to conserve the cultural heritage and create the conditions in
which it will thrive through adaptation.
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