Koshari on UNESCO's Radar: Why Did Egypt Request Its Official Registration?

Egyptian koshari

Koshari on UNESCO's Radar: Why Did Egypt Request Its Official Registration?

Egyptians are eagerly awaiting UNESCO's approval of koshari for inclusion on the 2025 Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The organization is meeting in New Delhi, India, to review dozens of nominations submitted by 78 countries.

An Egyptian official stated that "UNESCO is holding its 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in New Delhi, chaired by Dr. Khaled El-Enany. The committee is scheduled to decide on Wednesday the results of the Egyptian application, which was submitted independently, unlike many other applications submitted jointly with other countries."

According to the document submitted to UNESCO, the Egyptian Ministry of Culture stated that "koshari is the most widespread and popular dish among Egyptians. It has historical roots, as depictions of it have appeared on temple walls, and traces of its ingredients have been found in Pharaonic tombs. It is a healthy vegetarian dish containing proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins, without animal fats. It is also economical and suitable for all religions."

The request stated that "Koshari is popular in specialty restaurants catering to a wide range of economic segments, offering varying prices and presentation styles, despite the basic ingredients and recipe remaining consistent. It is a filling and affordable daily meal for workers and students, served in restaurants and food carts that have been around since the 1940s, featuring traditional decor and designs. These establishments are particularly common near schools, as they provide a satisfying and energizing meal."

The Egyptian request further noted that "Koshari serves several social and cultural functions, in addition to being a filling and suitable meal for those with limited incomes, students, and workers. It is a symbol of Egyptian identity and is proudly presented to visitors. It also represents national identity during National Day celebrations at Egyptian embassies abroad."

Over the years, dozens of foreign ministers and diplomats visiting Cairo have made a point of sampling the Egyptian dish koshari, made with macaroni, rice, lentils, and fried onions, topped with a spicy tomato sauce. Among them were Austrian Foreign Minister Hermann Reisinger, who was even seen preparing koshari herself, as well as the US President's Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, and several foreign ambassadors.

Since 2008, Egypt has successfully documented several of its most prominent cultural traditions on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. These include stick fighting, the epic of Bani Hilal, puppet shows, hand weaving, celebrations associated with the Holy Family, Arabic calligraphy, metalwork (copper, silver, and gold), and the simsimiyya (a type of lyre).

In addition to the Egyptian dish koshari, UNESCO is considering dozens of nominations from 78 countries, including the traditional Gulf cloak (bisht), Yemeni musical poetry, the Hindu festival of Diwali in India, the Argentinian quartet dance, Icelandic swimming pools, and Chilean circus traditions.

Why did Egypt submit a nomination for koshari?

From New Delhi, Nahla Imam, advisor to the Egyptian Minister of Culture for Intangible Cultural Heritage, stated that "the inscription of koshari on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage represents international recognition of an authentic element of Egyptian heritage." She pointed out that "this popular dish doesn't inherently require safeguarding efforts, as it is widespread and deeply rooted in the daily lives of Egyptians."

She added that "the nomination of koshari came in response to widespread public demand. Over the years, the Ministry has received repeated requests from the public to register traditional Egyptian dishes, including ful medames, ta'amiya, and sun-dried bread. However, regulations allow a country to submit only one item every two years, which is why koshari was given priority based on the wishes of the Egyptian public."

The document stated that "Koshari is widespread and deeply rooted in Egyptian culture and does not require intensive efforts to preserve it. Nevertheless, there are always measures to ensure its continuity, such as including Koshari in the curricula of home economics, tourism and hotels colleges, and the necessity of mastering it as a dish that represents Egyptian cuisine."