Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Farhan announced on Wednesday that Camel Heda’a (Heda’a Al Ebel) and knowledge and practices related to cultivating Saudi Khawlani coffee beans are the newest additions to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The decision in this regard was taken by the 17th annual session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, being held in Rabat, Morocco.
Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with Oman and the United Arab Emirates, led the joint file to register the Heda’a Al Ebel, which is known as a form of traditional oral expression and a means of communication between camels and their herders.
The registration of Saudi Khawlani coffee was the culmination of the efforts of a joint national team led by the Heritage Commission, with the support of the Ministry of Culture; the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science; the Permanent Saudi Delegation to UNESCO; the Culinary Commission, and the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society.
With this registration, the number of intangible cultural heritage items that the Kingdom has succeeded in registering in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO has reached 11. These include the Majlis, the Arabic coffee, the Najdi Ardha, the flute, the falconry, the Asiri cat, the palm tree, the Sadu traditional weaving craft, Arabic calligraphy, Camel’s Heda’a, and Saudi Khawlani coffee.
This comes in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and within the framework of the national efforts to document the national heritage, and highlight it locally and globally, in a way that enhances its chances of continuity and guarantees its sustainability.
Camel Heda'a can be defined as a set of sounds made by camel herders to communicate with their flocks and deliver a specific message on different occasions. The camels interact with those sounds depending on the tone and how they are trained by herders.
Heda’a is an oral polyphonic expression accompanied by gestures or musical instruments played by herders to communicate with their camels, according to a UNESCO statement. 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.
Heda’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.
Khawlani coffee is one of the most luxurious and famous types of Saudi coffee, and its cultivation in the southern regions of the Kingdom is more than eight centuries old. The customs of the people of the region, their poetry, their songs, and their economy were closely associated with it.
The cultivation of Khawlani coffee beans begins by planting the seeds in mesh bags filled with soil and stored in a shaded area for three to four months, a UNESCO statement pointed out. They are then transferred to agricultural terraces that conserve water and soil. The fruit grows two to three years after planting. It is harvested by hand and laid out to dry. To extract the bean, the dried fruits are placed on a large, flat stone mill, and a cylindrical stone hulls them to prevent cracking, separating the bean from the outer shell.
Khawlani tribes have been cultivating coffee beans for over 300 years, passing on the skills and techniques to younger generations. Coffee is viewed as a symbol of generosity in Saudi Arabia and serving guests coffee beans harvested from one’s own farms is considered a sign of honor and respect. The planting and processing of Khawlani coffee beans encourage social cohesion and provide a sense of shared identity, with farmers gathering to exchange knowledge and help other farmers improve their skills.
