Taskiwin

Taskiwin (Berber languages: ⵜⴰⵙⴽⵉⵡⵉⵏ, Arabic: تاسكيوين) is a traditional dance of Morocco that is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is a martial dance that is specific to the western High Atlas mountain range in central Morocco. The dance gets its name from the richly decorated horn each dancer carries, known as the Tiskt. The dance involves the art of shaking one's shoulders to the rhythm of tambourines and flutes, and stomping the feet.[1] The practice is said to foster social cohesion and harmony and provide a sense of identity and continuity for the communities that perform it.[2]

Taskiwin, martial dance of the western High Atlas
Taskiwin dancers in Irohalen village
CountryMorocco
Domainsdance
Reference01256
Inscription history
Inscription2017 (12th session)

Taskiwin is one among many traditional group dance styles of Morocco.[3] It's also considered a subgenre of Ahwash.[4]

History and Origin

It is believed to have originated in the High Atlas Mountains, where it was performed by the Amazigh people, also known as the Berbers. The dance was traditionally performed by men, who would carry a decorated horn called the Tiskt while dancing. The Tiskt is an important part of the dance, as it is used to create a rhythmic beat that accompanies the movements of the dancers. The dance was originally performed as a martial art, and was used by the Amazigh people as a way to train for battle, as well as to celebrate victories in battle.

Instruments

Taskiwin involves several musical instruments such as:

  • Agwal: a small clay barrel or goblet-shaped drum[5]
  • Tal'wwatt: a flute
  • Tallunt: a frame drum
  • Tiskt: a powderhorn, after which the dance was named, with a small bell attached to it.[6] The term "tiskt" in Berber language simply means "horn", and its plural form is "taskiwin".[7][8][4]

Current status

Due to denigration of traditions by young people today, Taskiwin is in danger of extinction, with only a few villages still practicing it, and practitioners often not finding aspiring successors.[9] Since 1993, several local associations were created in an attempt to preserve this tradition.[2]

References
  1. Sahney, Vivek (2019). Dictionary of Music & Staff Notation. Notion Press. ISBN 9781645878483.
  2. "Taskiwin, martial dance of the western High Atlas". 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  3. Mnasra, Azzeddine (2004). الهويات والتعددية اللغوية: قراءات في ضوء النقد الثقافي المقارن (in Arabic). مجدلاوي للنشر والتوزيع،. p. 262. ISBN 9789957021573.
  4. Chahid, Abdelfattah. "نحو قراءة ثقافية للفنون الشعبية الرقص الجماعي المغربي أنموذجا" [Towards a cultural interpretation of Moroccan popular group dance]. Retrieved 2023-03-30. ومن أنواع رقصات أحواش الكثيرة رقصة احتفالية أمازيغية تسمى بتاسكيوين
  5. Pandey, Ashish (2005). Encyclopaedic Dictionary Of Music (2 Vols.). Isha Books. ISBN 9788182052017.
  6. Reynolds, Dwight; Marcus, Scott; Danielson, Virginia, eds. (2017). The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music - The Middle East · Volume 6. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781351544177. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  7. معلمة المغرب :‏ ‏قاموس مرتب على حروف الهجاء يحيط بالمعارف المتعلقة بمختلف الجوانب التاريخية و الجغرافية والبشرية و الحضارية للمغرب الأقصى (in Arabic). جمعية المغربية للتأليف والترجمة والنشر. 1989. p. 191.
  8. ‏تراث الشعبي (in Arabic). ‏دار الشؤون الثقافية العامة (العراق).‏ ‏وزارة الثقافة والإعلام, ‏مركز الفولكلوري. 1979. p. 76.
  9. "Birthplace of the Taskiwin". Retrieved 2023-03-29.
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