UNESCO Recognition for Arab Kohl: A New Addition to Tunisia's Intangible Cultural Heritage
The National Heritage Institute (INP) announced on Thursday the inscription of Arab kohl on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition was made possible through a joint dossier submitted by Tunisia and eight other Arab countries.
The inscription took place during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which began on December 8 and will continue until December 13, 2025, in New Delhi, India.
With this new addition, the total number of Tunisian elements inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list reaches ten. Tunisia's first inscription was in 2018 with the dossier on "Knowledge, know-how, and practices related to the pottery of Sejnane women," followed by three other national dossiers:
- The Charfiya fishing methods in 2020
- "Harissa: knowledge, know-how, and culinary and social practices" in 2022
- The most recent dossier, "The performing arts of the Gbenten corporations," registered at the end of 2024
It was also announced at the beginning of 2025 that work is underway to prepare a dossier aiming to propose the Tunisian Jebba (traditional garment) for inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list as an individual dossier.
