Algerian association El Mouahidia receives UNESCO accreditation for cultural heritage efforts

The association El Mouahidia, dedicated to preserving the historical, cultural, and tourist heritage of Nedroma in Tlemcen, Algeria, has achieved international accreditation from UNESCO. This recognition in the field of intangible cultural heritage protection is the culmination of years of dedicated fieldwork by the association.

Azzedine Midoune, president of El Mouahidia, stated that this accreditation is a source of pride for Algeria, Nedroma, and the Tlemcen region. He emphasized that it highlights Algeria's growing role in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and the crucial contribution of civil society in passing this heritage to future generations. The distinction acknowledges the association's significant activities both within Algeria and internationally.

El Mouahidia actively manages a heritage house in Nedroma's historic Terbiâa district, alongside a library containing over 10,000 volumes. It also oversees a private museum focused on the region's heritage and regularly organizes national and international forums on local heritage. The association has digitized approximately 6,000 documents, including books, old photographs, and newspapers related to Nedroma's history. Furthermore, it directs an Andalusian music school that has trained numerous artists in this genre and has published 60 books on the city's history and heritage.

The association has also spearheaded seven projects supported by the Ministries of Culture, Youth, and Sports, as well as the European Union. These initiatives have focused on establishing the heritage house, cataloging Nedroma's cultural and scientific heritage, preserving tangible and intangible heritage, promoting it, and fostering local tourism. El Mouahidia has also contributed to projects like Casbah, which offers vocational training and job placement for unemployed youth, and a program aimed at strengthening citizen participation in the sustainable preservation of Tlemcen's local cultural heritage. Founded in 1973 and officially recognized in 1985, El Mouahidia has been committed to preserving national heritage for decades.