Using the six official languages of the United Nations, the Secretariat of the International Organization of Folk Art (IOV) – which is headquartered in Bergamo, Italy – invited researchers from around the world to participate in IOV’s Scientific Conference 2019 – ‘Folk Culture: Present and Future Pathways’ – which coincides with the IOV World General Assembly in Sharjah, UAE in April 2019.

This study reveals the importance of gender equality in studying traditional crafts. The study approaches the issue from a socio-anthropological perspective. It also attempts to monitor the various obstacles that hinder the empowerment of craftswomen and prevent them from developing traditional crafts in Morocco and achieving independence. 

Spanish people have an image of Arabs and Muslims based on the historical connection between the two cultures. This image is reflected in folk heritage and folklore, especially in proverbs and idioms that include the word ‘Moro’ (which means Moors in English). According to recent studies, the image of the Muslim or Arab in these phrases varies; sometimes the image of the ‘Moro’ is positive, sometimes it is negative and it can also be neutral, especially when the word ‘Moro’ is associated with a geographic location.

This study attempts to compare three versions of the same folktale. At first glance, these examples may appear to be different stories but when we deconstruct their basic elements we discover that these three versions are one story.

While examining some of the terms and clothes currently used in Morocco, we discerned an Iberian origin. The amazing urban life of Andalusia helped to create a bright, cultivated, elegant civilisation.

This study is conducted within the framework of a conceptual theory of knowledge and we attempt to benefit from different fields of knowledge in order to study the mechanisms of the production of socio-cultural knowledge from all angles. I will draw on two important theories: the conceptual structure; and the standard social science model by Tooby and Cosmides. The first theory will help to deconstruct the components of the mind and the ways in which they interact while the second has ontological, cultural and epistemological aspects.

Gypsies have been living and migrating throughout Egypt for a very long time, but there is little evidence that the Ghawazi (travelling female dancers) travelled throughout Egypt like the Gypsies. We cannot be sure that there are families of the Ghawazi scattered through all Egyptian governorates and villages.

At the beginning of this study, my first concern was documenting the ancient folk music practice during the Punic and Roman periods in Tunisia. My main concern was that I would fall into the trap of documenting the music of the higher social groups and omit – partially or completely ­­– the music of people in different parts of the country.

Though simple, the traditional dwellings in the south of Tunisia are a rich resource for researchers and architects who seek to learn about the Tunisian identity and beliefs. The architects who designed these buildings included Tunisian symbols and signs in different ways; as a whole, this forms a semiotic system.