Oman Promotes Cultural Heritage Initiatives in Tunisia

The Literary Forum of Oman shared insights on the Sultanate's dedication to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage during the International Conference on Regions and Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Tunis. This gathering united researchers and cultural practitioners from various nations to explore effective strategies for preserving oral traditions and fostering national identity.

Fahd bin Mahmoud Al-Rahbi, leading the Oral History Department at the Literary Forum under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, presented Oman’s comprehensive strategy to document oral histories and traditional cultural practices. He emphasized Oman’s commitment to developing an organized approach to transform cultural memory into sustainable knowledge for future generations.

Al-Rahbi pointed out that Oman’s cultural preservation initiatives are closely linked to global agreements, notably the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, ratified in 2003. He proudly noted the achievement of registering 18 heritage elements on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by 2026, underscoring Oman’s dedication to maintaining its cultural identity.

The presentation also shed light on the UNESCO-Sultan Haitham Prize for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, designed to support international efforts aimed at preserving diverse cultural heritages. Officials elaborated that this initiative fosters global collaboration to conserve traditions, customs, and oral histories that face the threat of extinction.

The conference addressed the activities of the Oral History Department in gathering personal stories from Oman’s elders. Researchers referred to the older generations as “human libraries,” safeguarding crucial details about Omani customs, social life, and history. Various field studies and publications showcasing traditional crafts and lifestyles from Oman's governorates were also shared during the session.

Significant emphasis was placed on documenting endangered cultural practices, including the ancient aflaj irrigation system and traditional threshing techniques, alongside linguistic studies on the Bathari language. Experts asserted that maintaining linguistic and cultural diversity remains integral to Oman’s heritage strategy, enhancing the nation’s historical narrative.

Moreover, the presentation outlined forthcoming initiatives aimed at bolstering cultural sustainability in Oman, including the establishment of a national center for gathering and analyzing folk heritage. Plans to integrate studies of intangible heritage into university curricula and to translate Omani heritage materials into multiple languages, including French and Spanish, were also revealed. Officials expressed intentions to organize further oral history seminars and to mentor a new generation of researchers to document Oman’s cultural legacy.