Alheda'a, oral traditions of calling camel flocks

Overview

Alheda’a is an oral polyphonic expression accompanied by gestures or musical instruments played by herders to communicate with their camels. The rhythmic expression is inspired by poetry, and the herder uses a unique repository of sounds that the camels have become accustomed to in order to direct herds through the desert or pasture to an area for drinking, feeding and milking preparation. Alheda’a can also be used for swift assembly in case of immediate danger such as sandstorms. Herders train their camels to recognize the difference between right and left, to open their mouths when asked, and to kneel down to be ridden. The practice creates a strong bond between the camels and their herders, as well as among the herders themselves. It is transmitted within families and communities, with children accompanying adult family members on daily trips.

This record is imported from the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage public dataset as discovery metadata. ARED has not independently verified community authority, access protocols or local naming beyond the source record.

Community and Authority

Communities: Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates
Languages: Not specified in UNESCO dataset
Cultural territories: Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates
Countries: Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates

How the System Works

Music, Performance and Oral Literature Language, Story and Memory Material Culture, Design and Technology Ways of Knowing and Knowledge Transmission

Sources and Evidence

Imported from UNESCO DataHub dataset ich001. Field-level provenance is retained in the record metadata.

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage ListsDataset

Open original source record

Field-Level Provenance

title: UNESCO DataHub field title_en
preferredTitle: UNESCO DataHub field title_fr
summary: UNESCO DataHub field description_en
type: UNESCO DataHub fields type_of_element_en and type_acronym
countries: UNESCO DataHub field countries, ISO codes resolved with ISO-3166 regional metadata
categories: ARED category inference from UNESCO concepts_primary_names, concepts_secondary_names and title
relationships: UNESCO concepts_primary_names, concepts_secondary_names, type fields and World Heritage links
sourceUrl: UNESCO DataHub field http_url_en
rights: UNESCO DataHub dataset metadata license and license_url

Original Source Metadata

uuid072a75fd-aaff-4c3e-854b-dceb6fe413c2

ich_public_ref1717

inscription_year2022

title_enAlheda'a, oral traditions of calling camel flocks

title_frAlheda’a, traditions orales de l’appel des troupeaux de dromadaires

type_of_element_enRepresentative List

type_acronymRL

countriesSA, OM, AE

http_url_enhttps://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/01717

concepts_primary_namesNonverbal communication

concepts_secondary_namesBody percussion, Emotions, Family, Festivals, Know-how transfer, Nonformal education, Oral tradition, Poetry, Polyphonic singing, Social gathering, Stick, Tribes, Woodwind instruments

main_image_urlhttps://ich.unesco.org/img/photo/thumb/14905-LRG.jpg

main_image_caption_enA herder calling his flock by "Alsaliq"

main_image_copyrightAbdullah Alhumaidani, Saudi Arabia, 2020

main_image_authorNot supplied

videoshttps://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/JSAHGv4igsQ

images[object Object], [object Object], [object Object]

Why This Record Is Credible

This public record is connected to 1 source and has been labelled Source Supported. ARED separates evidence sources from cultural authority so users can see both provenance and review limits.

Cultural Access

Use this as public discovery metadata only. It does not replace community authority or local access protocols.

Relationships

Nonverbal communication Body percussion Emotions Family Festivals Know-how transfer Nonformal education Oral tradition Poetry UNESCO representative list

Review and Corrections

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