14 - CLT/CIH/ITH 553YEM4000
Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural HeritageTerminal report
The report is prepared for the review meeting scheduled for February 2009
Project Title: An Action Plan for the Safeguarding of the Song of Sana’a, a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
Target Country Republic of Yemen (City of Sana’a)
Or Region:
Budget code: 553YEM4000
Funding Source: UNESCO/Japan Funds-In-Trust for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Total Budget approved: US$ 96,513.00 (including programme support costs)
Reporting Period: 3 years (November 2005 – January 2009)
Executing Agency: UNESCO Regional Office for Science in Cairo
Implementing partners: Social Fund for Development in Sana’a
Yemeni Center for Musical Heritage in Sana’a
Ministry of Culture in yemen
French Center for Archaeology and Social Sciences in Sana'a (CEFAS)
Yemeni national Commission for UNESCO
Project starting date: November 2005
Project completion date: 31st January 2009
Responsible Sector: Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
Name of Person completing Report:
1. Mr. Gérard de Puymège, Senior Programme Specialist for Culture, UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo
2. Ms. Hoda Abdel-Meguid, Programme Assistant, UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo
I. Summary and Background
This project was approved as a follow-up to the Proclamation of the Song of Sana’a as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity stated by the Director-General of UNESCO on 7 November 2003.
The selection criteria justifying its proclamation were: its remarkable value deeply rooted in Yemeni culture, its role in the construction of cultural identity, its contemporary cultural and social role, and the excellence of the artists’ skills, its value as a unique historical testimony and the risk of disappearance.
Its purposes are to promote knowledge about the Song of Sana’a, to raise awareness about its functions and its importance for society as well as to ensure its safeguarding and revival through teaching, research and inventory making activities.
A main component of the project is the creation of audio-visual archives on digital media for the Song of Sana’a, by a team of national experts, musicologists, historians of poetry and dance. The documentation will be made available to the public through archives, media, conferences and publications. Support will also be provided for master lute makers to enable them to transmit their know-how to apprentices. The other main component consists of master-classes for advanced students to ensure the transmission to future generations of traditional vocal, instrumental and choreographic skills related to the Song of Sana’a.
The Song of Sana’a, al-Ghina al-San’ani is a traditional form of music from Yemen with a long and complex history unbroken up to the present. Although its name links it to “Sana’a”, the capital of Yemen, it developed throughout the whole country. It was created during the Resoled dynasty (14thcentury) in towns like Taiz and Zabid. After a change in royal dynasties at the end of the 16th century, Sana’a became the new political centre, as well as the centre for this music. This is how the Song of Sana’a took the form under which it is still known today. In modern times, under the reign of Imam Yahya, who had banned music from Sana’a, many musicians went to Aden to record their music. The Song of Sana’a can be regarded as the classical music of Yemen.
The Song of Sana’a is distinguished by two original instruments not found anywhere else: a four-string lute with a monoxyle body, the qanbûs/tarab, which differs from the Arabian oriental ‘ûd by its playing techniques (with a bird quill), and a percussion instrument, the copper plate, sahn mîmyeh, which is played balanced on the thumbs. The music is accompanied by traditional dance for men and women. The lute and copper plate making is still practiced by a very small number of craftsmen.
II. Description of project activities undertaken during the contract period (2008/9)
Promotion, Dissemination and Awareness Raising CampaignII. 1) Final Follow-Up Mission by UNESCO Cairo Office ($1,242.00):
Within the framework of the Song of Sana’a Project, a mission undertaken by Ms. Abdel-Meguid to Sana’a, Yemen during 7 to 11 January 2009 to attend the last Steering Committee Meeting held in Sana’a on 7th January 2009 at the premises of the Yemeni Center for Musical Heritage (YCMH). The Steering Advisory Committee Meeting was held on Wednesday, 7th January 2009 at the premises of the Yemeni Center for Musical Heritage (YCMH) under the chairmanship of HE Dr Abdel Aziz Al-Maqaleh (President’s Advisor for Cultural Affairs and Rector of the Yemeni Center for Research and Studies) and attended by HE Dr Ali Ahmed Abul Rejal (President of the National Archives Center, Presidency Cabinet, Eng. Abdullah Al-Dailami (Chief of the Cultural Heritage Unit, Social Fund for Development, Cabinet of Ministers) and Eng. Nabil Saleh al-Maqaleh (Project Officer, Cultural Heritage Unit, Social Fund for Development, Cabinet of Ministers), Mr. Hesham Ali Ben Ali (General Director of the Minister of Culture Office), Mr. Mohamed Abdel-Bari Al-Kadasi (Secretary-General of the Yemeni National Commission for UNESCO), Mr. Jaber Ali Ahmed (Director of the Yemeni Center for Musical Heritage, Ministry of Culture and National Coordinator of the Sana’a Song Project), Mr. Ali Mohsen Alakwa’a (President of the Yemeni Chanters “Hymnodists” Association), Mr. Mohamed An-Nood (Executive Director, Foundation for the Protection of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage in Sana’a), Ms. Hoda Abdel-Meguid (Representative of unesco Cairo), Mr. Junji Kawashima (Cultural Attaché of the Japanese Embassy in Sana’a) Mr. Samir Mokrani (Scientific and Administrative Coordinator) Mr. Rafik al A’akouri (Technical Assistant), Mrs. Andira A’Atchan (Secretary of the ycmh Director), Mr. Abdullah al-Beshari (Sound System Analyst, ycmh. The Committee Members recommended postponing the conference dates to be on early February 2009 instead of mid January 2009 to ensure the high-level participation of the stakeholders and the Minister of Culture as well.
Following the meeting adjourned, Eng. Al-Dailami accompanied by some SC members toured the Yemeni Center for Musical Heritage to monitor the progress achieved since the project’s inception till present. They praised the efforts of its staff and stressed on their support to this cultural center and keenness for its sustainable enhancement of intangible heritage of Yemen in particular for the young generations of Yemeni musicians and singers.
III. 2) National Coordinator and support staff: ($ 3,540.00)
The National Coordinator, Mr. Jaber Ali Ahmed ($ 2,640.00) has been providing non-stop assistance and supervision since the conclusion of the project’s preliminary and first phases despite of the official initiation date of the project’s second phase on the 1st of March 2008. As per attached you will find the supporting payment bills of the said coordinator who failed no efforts to make the project well presented and propagated the pivotal role of the nationals to safeguard their Sana’a musical heritage.
The National Coordinator Assistant, Ms. Andira A’atchan ($ 900.00) is mandated by the Yemeni Center for Musical Heritage to contribute their assistance and time for the proper implementation of this project are also due. Ms. Andira A’atchan is assisting the National Coordinator since the project’s initiation and has also a very wide experience in the field of musical teaching in her capacity as the Director Assistant of the House of Music in Sana’a, Yemen (a non-governmental organization).
II. 3) Field work, inventory and sound archiving trainings ($6,251.00)
Continue recording traditional artists:
· Mr. Mohamed al-Jamai’ee and Mr. Nabil Al-A’alwi Mohamed Salem have been assigned to perform traditional Sana’a Songs and hymns and to narrate all stories and unique jokes of the Yemeni traditional art in Sana’a. These sessions have been recorded at the Yemeni Center for Musical Heritage to be stored at its database. All copyrights are reserved to the original Yemeni artists and singers and the Yemeni Center for Musical Heritage is permitted to disseminate all recorded materials for the public.
Purchase of old recorded song tapes and recording CDs:
· A 132 (100 & 32) units of old recorded tapes of the master singers of Sana’a Songs have been purchased as well as blank compact diskettes for further duplications needed for dissemination among the young public.
II. 4) International expert and ethnomusicologist ($6,800.00)
International experts in history of the traditional Yemeni poetry
· Dr. Jean Lambert (Former Director of the French Center for Archaeology and Social Sciences (CEFAS) is assigned by the Yemeni Center for Musical Heritage to adapt the poetry database and create links with the songs database and also to support in ensuring the efficient completion of the ongoing project’s phase II activities as per stipulated in the attached contract.
· The Yemeni Center for Musical Heritage has managed to purchase the advanced archive musical database from by Dr. Julien de Fort to be available for internal utilization by the qualified YCMH personnel.
Local expert in traditional Yemeni poetry
· Mr. A. Al-Beshari is assigned to be responsible of data entry of the project's musical records database for the Heminis Yemeni traditional poetry to display the original texts of the said poetry. It is planned to join both data basis along with the sound data base.
II. 5) Transmission workshops ($5,550.00)
· Teaching sessions on lute playing, methodology, inshad of Sana’ani songs and sahn playing by Yemeni master artists
· As setting up of the training manual of the Song of Sana'a has been proved to be premature and vain given the situation as master poets still transmit their art in a very traditional fashion which is totally foreign to the contemporary rationality, a teaching class has been approved to be launched at the Yemeni Center for Musical Heritage to disseminate information and knowledge about the Sana’a songs (al ghina as sana’ani) and how to play the traditional Yemeni musical instruments mainly the Yemeni Lute (turbi) and the Copper Plate (sahn) similar to the pioneering experiences of Iraq and Tunisia.
II. 6) Promotion and awareness raising campaign ($4,210.00)
· An awareness raising campaign is ongoing in Sana’a and other towns/ villages including open house at the Yemeni Centre for Musical Heritage (YCMH), free access to the public at large (sound archives, films on the traditional Song of Sana’a, music and dance).
· A conference will be organized early of February 2009 at the Mehdhar Hall recently offered by the Minister of Culture to the Yemeni Center for Musical Heritage (YCMH) to promote the importance of the Song of Sana’a and safeguard and disseminate its traditions among the young population of Yemen. National experts and international experts residing in Yemen will attend.
· A Certificate of Appreciation was prepared by the UNESCO Cairo Representative and submitted for the endorsement of the Social Fund for Development and Yemeni Center for Musical Heritage to be awarded to the members who highly contributed to the success and efficiency of the project’s activities throughout the years 2006, 2007 and 2008 as shown hereunder.
II. 7) Disseminations and publications ($10,003.00)
· Production of 3 Digital Master CD of old recordings (500 copies each)
· Production of a DVD book on the Song of Sana’a: The book is divided into seven chapters; mainly deal with the history of the musical instruments by Mohamed Barakat, art sources from both Mr. Mohamed al Jama’ai and Mr. Ali Abul Rejal; synopsis on the Yemeni singing of epics and stories (inshad al muwashah al yamani) and its varied types; and articles on the tradition of lute making and playing by al Qadimy... Production costs are covered by UNESCO project and Social Fund for Development.
· A special programme is prepared by the YCMH in cooperation with CEFAS Sana’a, is resumed to disseminate the Song of Sana’a on local television and radio stations. Brochures and pamphlets are being distributed among schools, universities and institutions associated with this programme. In the meantime, a special exhibition room is dedicated for the traditional musical instruments of turbis and lutes; the newly-purchased as well as the fixed old ones.
IV. Difficulties and problems encountered and measures taken, changes in implementation
· The late establishment of the coordination agreement among the executing partners in Yemen; Social Fund for Development, Yemen Center for Musical Heritage and French Center for Archaeology and Social Sciences that took place in May 2006
· The remaining advanced high-tech sound equipment and software necessary for recording were not available in the local market of Yemen and thus purchase of such equipment was made in March 2007
· As setting up of the training manual of the Song of Sana'a has been proved to be premature and vain given the situation as master poets still transmit their art in a very traditional fashion which is totally foreign to the contemporary rationality, a teaching class has been approved to be launched at the Yemeni Center for Musical Heritage to disseminate information and knowledge about the Sana’a songs (al ghina as sana’ani) and how to play the traditional Yemeni musical instruments mainly the Yemeni Lute (turbi) and the Copper Plate (sahn) similar to the pioneering experiences of Iraq and Tunisia.
· The project's activities have been mainly delayed than planned due to the health and personal circumstances of the living masters that stopped recordings up till now, but it has been agreed with Mr. Muhammad al-Dhamarî, who was the student of the late master Salih al-‘Antarî, to start recording with him as soon as his personal situation would be better and hopefully it will be resumed this month taking as the Arab month of Ramadan (fasting) has just ended followed by the Lesser Bairam (eid el fitr).
V. Project Results achieved and indicators in accordance with the log frame (attached completed Matrix Table)
Results achieved:
· Recording of traditional artists
· Old recorded song tapes and traditional instruments are used in recordings and display at the yemeni center of musical heritage in Sana’a
· National experts of lute playing and lute making teaching are contracted
· Young trainees with the support of 6 music teachers by end of October 2008