Ukrainian Kobza Art at a Crucial Stage for Recognition as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

The issue of recognition of Ukrainian kobza art as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage is currently at a crucial stage, as the application has been given priority consideration. A decision on the recognition of the kobza art in Ukraine as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO is expected by the end of this year.

This was discussed at a meeting in the Media Center Ukraine.

UNESCO’s recognition of Ukrainian kobza art would first and foremost help to raise global awareness of kobza art in particular and Ukrainian culture in general. It would also open up more international platforms for the country that were previously inaccessible and where Ukrainian culture was either not represented at all or only sporadically and inaccurately.

“In addition, UNESCO encourages or requires the state to ensure that this tradition continues to exist in Ukraine or any other country. When a particular craft or phenomenon is recognized as intangible heritage, there are requirements and monitoring by an international institution to ensure that it is not lost or forgotten, and there is an incentive for the state to pay attention to it and include this phenomenon in cultural, social and budgetary projects,” said Taras Kompanichenko, Ukrainian cultural figure, kobzar, bandura player, lirnyk, and currently a serviceman in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

According to Andrii Rizol, head of the association “Watch Ukrainian!”, since receiving the priority status and realizing that the tradition of kobza art should be not only preserved for Ukrainians, but also shown to the whole world, the recording of kobzars began at the beginning of the year. So far 13 kobzars and more than 100 musical works have been recorded. In addition, 6 films and 3 lectures have been produced. A web portal DUMA was also created, where available materials and information about kobzars and kobza art in Ukraine can be accessed.

According to Ukrainian filmmaker and lirnyk Oles Sanin, the portal was developed according to international standards to ensure that the kobza tradition can be shared and preserved in a digital format.

“The portal is not just for the nomination process. It is the beginning of the first large-scale portal that we are creating according to all the requirements of the international community and UNESCO itself. We have had a lot of conversations, interviews and discussions about standards to pave the way for our heritage in the digital age and make it accessible not only to experts who know it, but also to young people and modern performers. It is also an opportunity to tell the world about ourselves,” he added.

Oles Sanin also mentioned that the nomination of Ukrainian kobza art has already aroused considerable interest. Specialists from Finland and Portugal, where similar traditions existed but were lost, came to the workshops eager to learn more.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news