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Tahtib

Egypt’s stick dance of honour.

Egyptian stick fighting from Upper Egypt, performed to music as a game of skill and honour. UNESCO listed it in 2016.

Fact file

Country
Egypt
Type
Weapons
Main federation
Modern Tahtib
Sources: UNESCO — Tahteeb, stick game

History

Tahtib is a traditional Egyptian stick-fighting game, especially from Upper Egypt (the Sa'id). Reliefs in ancient Egyptian tombs, around 4,500 years old, already show men fighting with sticks.

Today tahtib is performed as a game and dance to music of the mizmar (oboe) and drums, with values of respect, friendship and courage. UNESCO listed it as intangible cultural heritage in 2016.