Moorish epic T’heydinn | Global Knowledge Systems

Overview

The T’heydinn epic encompasses dozens of poems lauding the glorious feats of Moorish emirs and sultans. It propounds ancestral values underpinning the way of life of the Moorish community in Mauritania, and constitutes a literary and artistic manifestation of the Hassaniya language. Griots perform the epic accompanied by traditional stringed instruments such as the lute and harp, and the kettledrum. Griots preserve the collective memory of society through the poems, passing down knowledge and skills from father to son, with young griots first learning the instrumental skills before being initiated into the poetic tradition. The T’heydinn constitutes a permanent bond between the griots and their tribe, with a particular repertoire distinguishing each griot family. The epic is performed at social events including weddings, reconciliation ceremonies and invitations. Performances are...

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: Mauritania
Languages: Not specified in UNESCO dataset
Cultural territories: Mauritania
Countries: Mauritania

How the System Works

Music, Performance and Oral Literature Language, Story and Memory Material Culture, Design and Technology Law, Governance and Ethics 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

uuid2786c0ed-a988-4517-9a6d-00e6f3ce39d8

ich_public_ref524

inscription_year2011

title_enMoorish epic T’heydinn

title_frL’épopée maure T’heydinne

type_of_element_enUrgent Safeguarding List

type_acronymUSL

countriesMR

http_url_enhttps://ich.unesco.org/en/USL/00524

concepts_primary_namesBard, Epic poetry, Oral tradition

concepts_secondary_namesPeace, Percussion instruments, Plucked string instruments, Social inclusion, Social values, Story telling, Talent, Technical skills, Tribes, Vocal music, Wedding

main_image_urlhttps://ich.unesco.org/img/photo/thumb/03825-LRG.jpg

main_image_caption_enNot supplied

main_image_copyrightDPC-Ministère mauritanien de la culture

main_image_authorINTAJ

videos

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

Bard Epic poetry Oral tradition Peace Percussion instruments Plucked string instruments Social inclusion Social values Story telling Talent Technical skills UNESCO urgent safeguarding list

Review and Corrections

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