Books by Ahmed Skounti ⵃⵎⴰⴷ ⵓⵙⴽⵯⵏⵜⵉ
Drawing on debates about intangible cultural heritage (ICH) safeguarding at the local and interna... more Drawing on debates about intangible cultural heritage (ICH) safeguarding at the local and international levels, Intangible Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development: Inside a UNESCO Convention, explores the theoretical and practical implications of the intertwinement between these policy fields. Considering how sustainable development (SD) priorities are influencing representations of ICH, the volume questions how they are expanding the frontiers of the heritage realm and unsettling accepted understandings of the social uses of heritage. The contributing authors, who hail from a variety of different contexts and disciplinary backgrounds, explore these issues from a unique vantage point as both scholars and actors of the processes they analyze. Playing different roles in the implementation of the Convention, their positioning as insiders allows for a unique analytical perspective that is based on first-hand engagement with the practices of the Convention. Intangible Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development: Inside a UNESCO Convention sheds light on the complexity, potential, and consequences of combining ICH and SD at the policy-making level and in heritage practices on the ground. It will be of interest to academics and students working in heritage studies, development studies, anthropology, archaeology, international law, political science, international relations, and sociology.
Le Maroc recèle un héritage culturel riche et enraciné, aux multiples influences. Des expressions... more Le Maroc recèle un héritage culturel riche et enraciné, aux multiples influences. Des expressions, des pratiques sociales, des savoir-faire et des connaissances sont les genres principaux du patrimoine culturel immatériel. Longtemps laissés au seul bon vouloir ou pouvoir des individus, groupes ou communautés qui les détiennent ou les pratiquent, nombre d’entre eux ont disparu ou sont menacés de disparition tandis que d’autres se transforment à l’image de la société elle-même. Certains font l’objet d’une sollicitude de la part des communautés et des pouvoirs publics. Une infime minorité, enfin, parvient à la reconnaissance internationale. Ce livre est consacré aux sept éléments inscrits sur la Liste représentative du patrimoine culturel immatériel de l’humanité mise en place par l’UNESCO. Il s’agit de l’Espace culturel de la Place Jemaâ el-Fna, du Moussem de Tan-Tan, de la Fauconnerie, de la Diète méditerranéenne, du Festival des cerises de Sefrou et de l’Argan, pratiques et savoir-faire liés à l’arganier. S’il entend faire connaître ces éléments devenus illustres, il attire l’attention sur l’ensemble des manifestations du patrimoine culturel immatériel que recèle le territoire marocain, surtout celles menacées de disparition. Le livre est préfacé par Mohamed Amine Sbihi, ministre de la Culture du Maroc (2012-2016). Il est dirigé par Saad Hossini et Ahmed Skounti et coordonné par Fatima Aït Mhand. Les textes sont écrits par Fatima Aït Mhand, Rahma Miri, Mustapha Nami, Morad Riffi et Ahmed Skounti.
Papers by Ahmed Skounti ⵃⵎⴰⴷ ⵓⵙⴽⵯⵏⵜⵉ
Quite by chance, the principal author of this article witnessed the discovery of an interesting m... more Quite by chance, the principal author of this article witnessed the discovery of an interesting mural painting at Ksar Zenaga on 1 st April 2023. The demolition of an old house built from local materials in order to rebuild it revealed a drawing on the wall of a bedroom above a covered passageway in the ksar. It measures 1.70 m by 1.80 m. It is made up of geometric patterns painted in red ochre obtained from a red earth called tiwḍett, used by the inhabitants to dye the wooden elements used in architecture, such as the date palm beams. The material and painting technique are reminiscent of medieval wall paintings and especially rock art paintings. The authors propose a discussion on this subject, raising the broader question of the rewriting of art history in Morocco.
Etudes et Documents Berbères, 2022
In this article, we review the current research into Libyco-Berber inscriptions associated with r... more In this article, we review the current research into Libyco-Berber inscriptions associated with rock art in Morocco. We begin by reviewing the corpus of research carried out to date on all Libyco-Berber inscriptions, whether 'antique' or 'rock' inscriptions. We then turn to the Tirra corpus published by the Institut Royal de la Culture Amazighe in 2003. As a number of rock inscriptions have been discovered since Tirra was published, we make a count and describe them. Finally, we outline some future prospects for research into Libyco-Berber inscriptions.
Tangible and Intangible Heritage: Two UNESCO Conventions, 2023
Heritage production is one of the prominent features of our world. Conservation charters have bee... more Heritage production is one of the prominent features of our world. Conservation charters have been adopted and international organizations have been created. Heritage is today at the heart of the most diverse economic, political and diplomatic agendas. This chapter outlines a portrait of the two UNESCO conventions related to the protection of World Heritage (1972) and to the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003). The first normative instrument was visionary by putting together cultural heritage and natural heritage in the same international standard-setting document. A generation later, the second instrument introduced a paradigmatic reversal in the perception and management of heritage by placing all stakeholders, including local communities, inside the safeguarding process. The analysis reveals that the two conventions are two systems, each having its texts, its governing bodies, its secretariats, its advisory bodies and its satellite and non-state players. They seem to operate independently one from the other, but in reality, they rub shoulders with each other, influence each other and collaborate in diverse ways. However, the implementation of the two instruments is challenged by an unprecedented politicization that relegates to the background the conservation and safeguarding of inscribed sites and cultural practices.
The interest of anthropologists in international organizations goes back a long way. However, the... more The interest of anthropologists in international organizations goes back a long way. However, the study of international organizations as an ethnographic field is relatively recent. It falls within the framework of broader issues relating to law, international relations and global governance. For more than twenty years, I have had to work with one of these organizations, UNESCO. The accumulated experience deserves to be subjected to the double work of memory and reflection by using the auto-ethnographic method applied to the implementation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. First, I will relate the arduous preparation of this international normative instrument at the start of the twenty-first century. Then, I will present what is now called the "intangible cultural heritage system." Thirdly, I study closely the process of evaluating nominations for inscription on the lists of the convention and through which UNESCO grants recognition to local cultural practices. Finally, I will try to draw the lessons that emerge from th is exercise, both for anthropology and the auto-ethnographic approach and implications of world cultural governance in the field of intangible heritage.
Hespéris-Tamuda, 2019
Our research in Tamanart has shown that certain cultural practices, including “ritual hammering” ... more Our research in Tamanart has shown that certain cultural practices, including “ritual hammering” in Aguerd village, can help with the understanding of at least one type of cupules. Using ethnoarchaeological methods, we compared the cups of the archaeological sites with those still in use among the local population. In the latter category, there are two types: cups resulting from “ritual hammering” to attract good and to ward off evil, and larger cups associated with other rituals. We distinguish “archaeological cups” from
“ethnographic cups.” We found a great similarity between a type of “archaeological cups” and “ethnographic cups.” The rituals associated with the latter are likely to be inherited from old beliefs. Therefore, it is not excluded that cups of archaeological sites result from ritual
practices that are beyond of our reach.
Keywords: Cups, Rock Art, Rituals, Ethnoarchaeology, Tamanart (Morocco).
The 2003 Convention is one of the most powerful normative instruments of UNESCO in the fields of ... more The 2003 Convention is one of the most powerful normative instruments of UNESCO in the fields of culture and cultural heritage. Ten years after its entry into force, it’s worth scrutinizing its implementation globally. One hundred and seventy-four States have become parties to the Convention as of 12 May 2017. Four hundred and twenty-nine elements and 17 programs, activities, and projects have been inscribed altogether on the Urgent Safeguarding List and Representative List or selected on the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices. The 2003 Convention has given birth to what I propose to call an “Intangible Cultural Heritage System” (“ICH System”): a constellation of actors either on the local, national, or international levels who contribute, in different ways, to its implementation. This paper examines the main challenges posed to this system in the last decade. It focuses on key-issues to which the 2003 Convention is confronted today: the universality of the concept of ICH, the governance of the 2003 Convention and its implementation on the international, national, and local levels, the listing process, including its positive and negative effects, the role of communities and other stakeholders in the implementation process, and the impact of safeguarding on ICH elements. Through a critical approach, both from inside and outside the functioning of the ICH System, the main objective of the paper is to make a contribution to the efforts seeking at the enhancement of the safeguarding worldwide. Its aim is a contribution both to the academic research in the field of heritage
studies and to the improvement of the implementation worldwide.
Key words: Intangible Cultural Heritage System, the 2003 Convention, UNESCO, universality, safeguarding, communities, governance
Introduction au dossier Patrimonialiser au Maghreb coordonné conjointement avec Clémentine Gutron... more Introduction au dossier Patrimonialiser au Maghreb coordonné conjointement avec Clémentine Gutron. Les contributions analysent le processus de patrimonialisation dans quelques uns des pays de l'Afrique du Nord et au Mali.
Hespéris-Tamuda, 2022
This paper is the introduction of the special issue of the journal Hespéris-Tamuda on Practicing ... more This paper is the introduction of the special issue of the journal Hespéris-Tamuda on Practicing Archaeology in the Maghreb - Ptariquer l'archéologie au Maghreb which gathers papers of a wide range of scholars and thematic issues relating to the discipline of archéeology.
Heritage has become lately a scholarship field with multiple issues. An integral part of human cu... more Heritage has become lately a scholarship field with multiple issues. An integral part of human cultures, heritage interests today both the decision maker, the researcher, the public but also the international organizations. UNESCO early felt all the potential of such a field, developing during the last half century, a normative arsenal covering various domains of heritage. These domains are so close that the standard-setting instruments inevitably overlap each other. This is the case of the World heritage and of the Intangible cultural heritage, respectively covered by the 1972 Convention and the 2003 Convention. This paper will consider the links that exist or not between these two conventions. It will try to make a first census of the World heritage List sites where elements of the Intangible cultural heritage Representative List exist and briefly examine the nature of the link between them. It will, finally, consider what can be the modalities of cooperation between the two standard-setting instruments.
Perspective. Actualité en histoire de l'art, 2017
Interview led by Clémentine Gutron with François-Xavier Fauvelle, Kahina Mazari, Meriem Sebaï and... more Interview led by Clémentine Gutron with François-Xavier Fauvelle, Kahina Mazari, Meriem Sebaï and Ahmed Skounti. It's about archaeological knowledge in North Africa and how archaeology has been and is still practised in the countries of this region.
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Books by Ahmed Skounti ⵃⵎⴰⴷ ⵓⵙⴽⵯⵏⵜⵉ
Papers by Ahmed Skounti ⵃⵎⴰⴷ ⵓⵙⴽⵯⵏⵜⵉ
“ethnographic cups.” We found a great similarity between a type of “archaeological cups” and “ethnographic cups.” The rituals associated with the latter are likely to be inherited from old beliefs. Therefore, it is not excluded that cups of archaeological sites result from ritual
practices that are beyond of our reach.
Keywords: Cups, Rock Art, Rituals, Ethnoarchaeology, Tamanart (Morocco).
studies and to the improvement of the implementation worldwide.
Key words: Intangible Cultural Heritage System, the 2003 Convention, UNESCO, universality, safeguarding, communities, governance
“ethnographic cups.” We found a great similarity between a type of “archaeological cups” and “ethnographic cups.” The rituals associated with the latter are likely to be inherited from old beliefs. Therefore, it is not excluded that cups of archaeological sites result from ritual
practices that are beyond of our reach.
Keywords: Cups, Rock Art, Rituals, Ethnoarchaeology, Tamanart (Morocco).
studies and to the improvement of the implementation worldwide.
Key words: Intangible Cultural Heritage System, the 2003 Convention, UNESCO, universality, safeguarding, communities, governance
of this tent.
Keywords: Mobile Architecture, Nomadic Tent, Ayt Aïssa Izem, Morocco.