Tunis:Jazan As the world observes the International Day of Intangible Cultural Heritage on October 17, the Jazan Region preserves its cultural legacy through a vibrant array of arts, chants, customs, traditional crafts, and local knowledge. These elements remain integral to community life, safeguarding the local memory and passing it down through generations.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the region's performing arts are diverse, reflecting the varied landscapes of its mountains, coastline, and plains. The ardah, sword dances, and rhythmic chants are performed on various occasions, with each governorate maintaining its unique art forms characterized by distinctive rhythms, movements, and costumes. Women's heritage is also celebrated through performances and customs, including chants associated with farming seasons, Hajj, and community events. Traditional attire, from everyday wear to wedding dresses, echoes the lifestyles of the mountains, Tihama plains, and coastal areas.
Craftsmanship in Jazan includes basketry, pottery, woodwork, and leatherwork, along with the creation of farming and grain-milling tools. Residents have long utilized local resources, crafting items such as palm-leaf baskets, trays, and containers. Traditional markets in the region's governorates continue to serve as centers for exchanging goods, expertise, and oral narratives.
Sorghum cultivation is a deeply rooted tradition, built on generations of accumulated knowledge regarding land preparation, planting, irrigation, and harvesting. In the highlands, Khawlani coffee plays a central role in sustaining agricultural heritage, supported by traditional terrace farming, harvesting, drying, and processing methods. In 2022, UNESCO recognized the knowledge and practices related to cultivating Khawlani coffee beans by adding them to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
