The Sudanese 'Jirteg': A Living Cultural Heritage and Civilizational Continuity| Sudanow Magazine

Port Sudan, (Sudanow) – UNESCO has officially inscribed the Sudanese 'Jirteg' on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The announcement was made by the organization during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held from (December 8 to 13, 2025), in New Delhi, Republic of India. UNESCO officially registered the Jirteg as an element encompassing "practices, rituals, and expressions for preservation, protection, abundance, and fertility in Sudan" on the Representative List.

To shed the light on this important element and the steps taken towards its inscription, Sudanow met with Dr. Asaad Abdurahman, the Secretary-General of the National Council for Cultural Heritage and Promotion of National Languages. Dr. Asaad began by defining the Jirteg:
"The Jirteg is a Sudanese ritual that merges traditional customs, material culture, and oral traditions. The ritual is accompanied by folk music and songs, with the presence of elders—grandmothers, maternal aunts, and paternal aunts. It involves special attire for the newlyweds: the groom wears a red-adorned Jalabiyya (traditional robe), and the bride wears a red Tobe (traditional wrap) decorated with various accessories such as the Jadla (braided headpiece), a rosary (subha), silk, ornaments, golden pounds, and beautiful traditional scents like Darira, Mahlab, sandalwood, incense (Bakhour), and other perfumes."

Dr. Asaad added that the word Jirteg is a Nubian word composed of two syllables: (Jeer_Tig).
This ritual is tied to the human life cycle, accompanying Sudanese people from birth. It is also practiced during male circumcision, Henna (pre-wedding) ceremonies, and marriage. It is even said that some groups perform similar rituals during mourning, expressing grief for the deceased. The deceased is placed on an Angareb (traditional bed), under which a Birish (mat) similar to the one used for newlyweds is placed.
"The Jirteg is well-known throughout Sudan and is practiced by all Sudanese groups in the North, East, Central, South, and West. Its existence spans thousands of years, confirming the depth of Sudanese culture and its role as a fundamental component of the Sudanese identity, resulting from historical depth and civilizational continuity."

Dr. Asaad further noted: "The oldest archaeological evidence for this ritual dates back to the Meroitic civilization period. A part of Queen Amanishakheto's treasure was discovered, including a ring depicting a king, queen, and a child between them, sitting on an Angareb with a Barash—in front of them are vessels resembling those currently used in the Jirteg ritual. This depiction was interpreted as the king being married to the queen and the Jirteg ritual being performed during his coronation, using the same tools and seating arrangement we use today, even the presence of the child."
This ritual is performed for the sake of protection, abundance, fertility, growth, and bringing good fortune. The Jirteg holds a deep historical dimension that remains intact, with the same details, to this day.

The Secretary-General of the National Council stated: "The selection of this element and the preparation of its nomination file for inscription on the UNESCO list were carried out by the National Council for Cultural Heritage and Promotion of National Languages, in cooperation with the Heritage House Center, the Sudanese National Commission, and the UNESCO office in Sudan, alongside broad participation from local communities and organizations."

Among the projects completed by the Council is the establishment of a National Inventory List for Intangible Cultural Heritage, in implementation of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage. This Convention mandates states to establish inventory lists, and an element is not eligible for inscription unless it is included in the inventory. The list has now reached forty elements. Extensive preparation, including numerous workshops, was undertaken for this stage.
The first element inscribed on this list was Bishara Fal (Good Omen), which has become an omen for us. Other single elements include Henna, the date palm (Nakhlah), the Oud instrument, Nabati poetry, and the Sambouk (a traditional wooden boat). In December 2023, the celebration of the Prophet's Birthday (Al-Mawlid Al-Nabawi Al-Sharif) was inscribed.
The Convention's requirements include high-resolution photographs, a documentary film showcasing the ritual, and a form with several questions related to the element, such as its definition, the communities that practice it, its locations in Sudan, and safeguarding measures within the country.

Dr. Asaad concluded his remarks to Sudanow by confirming: "The inscription file for the Jirteg was submitted to UNESCO in March 2025. Some observations were made, such as translating the documentary film, adding clearer photos, and providing certain approvals. After fulfilling the required conditions, the Jirteg element was successfully inscribed among 54 elements worldwide. The Committee found that it met all the necessary criteria as a living and continuous element in which all national groups and categories participate."

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