The Intangible Folklore of the Djelfa Region

Abdelouahab, Mesdaoud; Benyakoub, Zohra

دراسات
Volume 14, Numéro 2, Pages 868-878
2025-12-11

The Intangible Folklore Of The Djelfa Region

Authors : Abdelouahab Mesdaoud . Benyakoub Zohra .

Abstract

Abstract Folklore, or popular arts, is a body of ancient arts, stories, tales, myths, material culture, and visual arts that are specific to the customs and traditions of a particular population group within a country. Knowledge related to folklore is typically passed from one generation to the next through oral narration. Each generation may add or omit elements to ensure the folklore aligns with its contemporary reality. This creative process is not the work of a single individual but is rather the product of the human collective within a society. Heritage is that which is transmitted from one generation to the next, encompassing customs, traditions, sciences, literature, arts, and so forth. We speak of "human heritage," "literary heritage," and "folk heritage." The latter includes all popular arts and traditions, such as poetry, song, music, folk beliefs, stories, anecdotes, and proverbs commonly used by the general populace, as well as the customs and inherited forms of performance, dance, games, and skills associated with marriage and various other occasions. The Djelfa region, with its own distinct folk heritage, is a case in point. This article investigates the contribution of folklore to popular literature within this region. Keywords: folklore, popular, intangible, Djelfa.