UNESCO representative list1 sources
Al-Bar’ah, musique et danse des vallées du Dhofar d’Oman
Al-Bar’ah is a Bedouin musical tradition from the Dhofar mountains in southern Oman. It takes the form of a warlike dance performed to drums and the chanting of poetry in a local tribal dialect. Al-Bar’ah is performed in a half circle formed by ten to thirty men and women. As they chant and clap, two male dancers holding ''khanjars''...
Middle EastOmanNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Al-Zajal, poésie déclamée ou chantée
Al-Zajal is a form of Lebanese folk poetry declaimed or sung at social and family celebrations and in daily life. The performers, both men and women, express themselves either individually or collectively on a variety of themes including life, love, nostalgia, death, politics and daily events. During poetic jousts, troupes of poets and...
Middle EastLebanonNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Alheda’a, traditions orales de l’appel des troupeaux de dromadaires
Alheda’a is an oral polyphonic expression accompanied by gestures or musical instruments played by herders to communicate with their camels. The rhythmic expression is inspired by poetry, and the herder uses a unique repository of sounds that the camels have become accustomed to in order to direct herds through the desert or pasture to...
Middle EastSaudi Arabia / OmanNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
L'Almezmar, danse du bâton au son des tambours
Almezmar is a traditional group performance practised by members of the Hijazi community in Saudi Arabia for festive occasions, such as family and national celebrations, religious holidays or government events. It involves about 15 to 100 practitioners dressed in long white garments who begin by standing in two rows opposite each other....
Middle EastSaudi ArabiaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
L'alpinisme
Alpinism is the art of climbing up summits and walls in high mountains, in all seasons, in rocky or icy terrain. It involves physical, technical and intellectual abilities, using appropriate techniques, equipment and highly specific tools such as axes and crampons. Alpinism is a traditional, physical practice characterized by a shared...
EuropeFrance / ItalyNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le jeu de théâtre amateur en Tchéquie
Amateur theatre is a community-based activity where people of all ages and genders come together in their free time to create and perform plays. The participants are not professional actors but work voluntarily to write, adapt and stage performances, often for local audiences. These plays may include well-known works, local stories or...
EuropeCzechiaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le chant traditionnel Arirang dans la République populaire démocratique de Corée
Arirang is a popular lyrical singing genre transmitted and recreated orally. It exists in multiple traditional forms as well as symphonic and modern arrangements. Arirang typically contains a gentle and lyrical melody, accompanied by the refrain: ‘Arirang, arirang, arariyo, Over the Arirang hill you go’. Arirang songs speak about...
East AsiaKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
L’Arirang, chant lyrique traditionnel en République de Corée
Arirang is a popular form of Korean folk song and the outcome of collective contributions made by ordinary Koreans throughout generations. Essentially a simple song, it consists of the refrain ‘Arirang, arirang, arariyo’ and two simple lines, which differ from region to region. While dealing with diverse universal themes, the simple...
East AsiaKorea, Republic ofNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
L’art des Ashiqs d’Azerbaïdjan
The art of Azerbaijani Ashiqs combines poetry, storytelling, dance and vocal and instrumental music into a traditional performance art that stands as a symbol of Azerbaijani culture. Characterized by the accompaniment of the ''saz,'' a stringed musical instrument, the classical repertoire includes 200 songs, 150 literary-musical...
Middle EastAzerbaijanNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO urgent safeguarding list1 sources
L’art de jouer, chanter et fabriquer la lahuta
The lahuta is a single-stringed wooden instrument with a sound box covered in leather and a carved neck that is made, played and sung with by which the rural communities of north and northwestern Albania. The instrument is handcrafted from wood such as maple or walnut, with strings once made of horsehair and now often nylon. It is...
EuropeAlbaniaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
L’As-Samer en Jordanie
Practised across many areas of Jordan, As-Samer consists mainly of dancing and singing and is performed on various occasions, most commonly during marriage ceremonies. Practitioners range from young to older individuals, with children being encouraged to take part during performances. On the wedding day, the father of the groom...
Middle EastJordanNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La tradition Âşıklık (de l’art des trouvères)
The Âşıklık (minstrelsy) tradition of Turkey is performed by wandering poet-singers known as ''âşıks.'' Dressed in traditional clothes and plucking a stringed ''saz,'' the âşık is a common performer at weddings, in coffeehouses and during public festivals of all sorts. The âşık is called in a dream to undertake a long apprenticeship in...
Middle EastTürkiyeNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Les fêtes du 15 août (Dekapentavgoustos) dans deux communautés montagnardes du nord de la Grèce : Tranos Choros (la grande danse) à Vlásti et le Festival de Syrráko
The Tranos Choros (Grand Dance) and Syrrako festival are celebrated nationwide in Greece to commemorate the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. Historically, these Orthodox festivities originating in Vlasti and Syrrako marked the annual reunion of pastoral communities before the sheep or cattle farmers moved to their winter pastures. Although...
EuropeGreeceNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La pratique du chant et de la musique bećarac de Croatie orientale
Bećarac is a popular genre of music in eastern Croatia deeply rooted in the cultures of Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem. Communication among its performers is essential: lead singers interchange vocal lines, striving to out-sing one another while creating, emulating and combining decasyllabic verses and shaping the melody – all the while...
EuropeCroatiaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le boléro, identité, émotion et poésie en chanson
Bolero is an indispensable part of the Latin American sentimental song, with a strong lyrical character deeply rooted in Cuba and Mexico. A cultural amalgam, it combines the language used in European poetry, with African rhythms of enslaved peoples and the sentiments of the native peoples of the Americas. Bolero lyrics allude to daily...
Latin America and CaribbeanCuba / MexicoNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le cante alentejano, chant polyphonique de l’Alentejo (sud du Portugal)
Cante Alentejano is a genre of traditional two-part singing performed by amateur choral groups in southern Portugal, characterized by distinctive melodies, lyrics and vocal styles, and performed without instrumentation. Groups consist of up to thirty singers divided into groups. The ponto, in the lower range, starts the singing,...
EuropePortugalNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le chamamé
Chamamé is a form of popular cultural expression that is mainly practised in the Corrientes province. Its key components include a style of ‘close embrace’ dancing where participants hold each other chest to chest and follow the music without set choreography. Other elements include musiqueada, a celebratory act that includes a party,...
Latin America and CaribbeanArgentinaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La calligraphie chinoise
Chinese calligraphy has always been more than simply a tool for communication, incorporating as it does the element of artistry for which the practice is still valued in an age of ballpoint pens and computers. Indeed, calligraphy is no longer the basic tool of intellectuals and officials but has become the preserve of professional...
East AsiaChinaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO urgent safeguarding list1 sources
Le rituel pour amadouer les chamelles
Mongol herders perform the coaxing ritual to encourage a female camel to accept a new-born calf or to adopt an orphan. The mother is tied close to the calf and a singer begins a monotone song accompanied by gestures and chanting. The coaxer changes the melody depending on the mother’s behaviour, which may be initially aggressive, and...
East AsiaMongoliaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La fabrication et la pratique de l’oud
The oud is a traditional, lute-type instrument played in Iran and Syria. The musician places the short-necked instrument on their leg, fretting with one hand and plucking the chords with the other. In both countries, the oud consists of a pear-shaped sound box made of walnut, rose, poplar, ebony or apricot wood. Crafting an oud takes up...
Global DiasporasIran, Islamic Republic of / Syrian Arab RepublicNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La danse traditionnelle csárdás
The csárdás is a Hungarian dance that is performed by couples consisting of a man and a woman, or, in some regions, of two women. Multiple couples participate in the dance at the same time, forming one large or several smaller circles. Each region has its own themes, gestures and figures, which are improvised according to well-known,...
EuropeHungaryNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le cuarteto : musique, danse et paroles dans la ville de Córdoba, Argentine
Cuarteto is a lively dance music genre that blends local criollo musical styles with influences from European immigrants. Early cuarteto orchestras featured instruments such as the piano, violin, accordion and double bass, with a singer leading the performance. Over time, the genre has incorporated Caribbean rhythms, Afro-Latin...
Latin America and CaribbeanArgentinaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La dabkeh, danse traditionnelle en Palestine
Dabkeh is a popular group dance in Palestine that is accompanied by traditional wind instruments and popular singing. A social activity, it is performed in several regions during festivals, celebrations and events such as weddings and graduations. Dabkeh is performed by eleven dancers, regardless of gender. The dancers stand in a...
Middle EastPalestine, State ofNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
L’épopée Darangen des Maranao du lac Lanao
The Darangen is an ancient epic song that encompasses a wealth of knowledge of the Maranao people who live in the Lake Lanao region of Mindanao. This southernmost island of the Philippine archipelago is the traditional homeland of the Maranao, one of the country’s three main Muslim groups. Comprising 17 cycles and a total of 72,000...
Southeast AsiaPhilippinesNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La Doïna
Known by various names throughout Romania, the ''doina'' is a lyrical, solemn chant that is improvised and spontaneous. As the essence of Romanian folklore, until 1900 it was the only musical genre in many regions of the country. Technically, the doina can be sung in any context (outdoors, at home, at work or during wakes), and is...
EuropeRomaniaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le Dondang Sayang
Dondang Sayang is a traditional Malay art still practised in Melaka by four communities: the Malay, Baba Nyonya, Chitty and Portuguese communities. The practice combines elements of music (violins, gongs and tambourines or the tambour), songs and chants, and features beautiful melodious strains of poetry. Also known as love ballads, the...
Southeast AsiaMalaysiaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le Duduk et sa musique
The duduk, the Armenian oboe, is a double-reed wind instrument characterized by a warm, soft, slightly nasal timbre. It belongs to the category of aerophones, which also includes the balaban played in Azerbaijan and Iran, the duduki common in Georgia and the ney in Turkey.The soft wood of the apricot tree is the ideal material for the...
Middle EastArmeniaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO urgent safeguarding list1 sources
La tradition de l’empaako des Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda et Banyabindi de l’ouest de l’Ouganda
Empaako is a naming system practised by the Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi, whereby children are given one of twelve names shared across the communities in addition to their given and family names. Addressing a person by her or his Empaako name is a positive affirmation of social ties. It can be used as a greeting...
AfricaUgandaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
L’équitation de tradition française
Equitation in the French tradition is a school of horseback riding that emphasizes harmonious relations between humans and horses. The fundamental horse-training principles and processes are guided by non-violence and lack of constraint, blending human demands with respect for the horse’s body and mood. Knowledge of the animal itself...
EuropeFranceNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le Fado, chant populaire urbain du Portugal
Fado is a performance genre incorporating music and poetry widely practised by various communities in Lisbon. It represents a Portuguese multicultural synthesis of Afro-Brazilian sung dances, local traditional genres of song and dance, musical traditions from rural areas of the country brought by successive waves of internal...
EuropePortugalNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le Flamenco
Flamenco is an artistic expression fusing song ''(cante),'' dance ''(baile)'' and musicianship ''(toque).'' Andalusia in southern Spain is the heartland of Flamenco, although it also has roots in regions such as Murcia and Extremadura. ''Cante'' is the vocal expression of flamenco, sung by men and women, preferably seated, with no...
EuropeSpainNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La culture foraine
Every year, from February through November, the funfair community travels around following a set itinerary, returning to the same places each year. Hosted by local authorities, they install their attractions in a public space, where they stay anywhere from one day to several weeks. Attractions include food stalls with confectionery and...
EuropeBelgium / FranceNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le Ganggangsullae
Ganggangsullae is a seasonal harvest and fertility ritual popular in the south-western part of the Republic of Korea, performed primarily on Korea’s Thanksgiving in the eighth lunar month. Under a bright full moon, dozens of young, unmarried village women gather in a circle, join hands and sing and dance all night under the direction of...
East AsiaKorea, Republic ofNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le Gbofe d’Afounkaha, la musique des trompes traversières de la communauté Tagbana
The Gbofe is mainly performed in the village of Afounkaha in the Tagbana community. The term Gbofe is used both for the transverse horns and for the performance as a whole, which encompasses music, song and dance. The Gbofe horns are made of roots covered by cowhide. Six of these horns are used together, ranging in length from 50 to 70...
AfricaCôte d'IvoireNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le grand chant du groupe ethnique Dong
A popular saying among the Dong people in Guizhou Province in southern China has it that ‘rice nourishes the body and songs nourish the soul’. Their tradition of passing on culture and knowledge in music is exemplified in the Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group, multi-part singing performed without instrumental accompaniment or a...
East AsiaChinaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La guarania, son de l'âme paraguayenne
The Guarania is a musical genre originating in Paraguay. Created in the early twentieth century, it is a collective expression of Paraguayan values. It uses the Guarani language, combining elements of native and popular music. The genre is characterized by syncopated rhythms and a slow tempo that is inspired by the Paraguayan polka. It...
Latin America and CaribbeanParaguayNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Héritage de Dede Qorqud/Korkyt Ata/Dede Korkut : la culture, les légendes populaires et la musique liées à cette épopée
The epic culture, folk tales and music of Dede Qorqud/Korkyt Ata/Dede Korkut are based on twelve heroic legends, stories and tales and thirteen traditional musical compositions shared and transmitted across the generations through oral expressions, performing arts, cultural codes and musical compositions. Dede Qorqud appears in each...
Global DiasporasAzerbaijan / KazakhstanNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le Hua’er
In Gansu and Qinghai Provinces and throughout north-central China, people of nine different ethnic groups share a music tradition known as Hua’er. The music is drawn from an extensive traditional repertoire named after ethnicities, towns or flowers (‘Tu People’s ''ling’,'' ‘White Peony ''ling’''), and lyrics are improvised in keeping...
East AsiaChinaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le Katta Ashula
Katta Ashula (literally ‘big song’) is a type of traditional song that forms part of the identity of various peoples of the Ferghana Valley in Uzbekistan, which is also home to Tajiks, Uyghurs and Turks, and of some regions of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. An original genre, Katta Ashula combines performing arts, singing,...
Central AsiaUzbekistanNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le lazgi, danse de Khorezm
The movements of Khorazm dance, Lazgi encapsulate human creativity by reflecting the sounds and phenomena of surrounding nature, feelings of love and happiness. Initially associated with the Khorazm Region, Khorazm dance, Lazgi has since become widespread in Uzbekistan. Paintings of the dance can be found in the archaeological site of...
Central AsiaUzbekistanNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La klapa, chant à plusieurs voix de Dalmatie, Croatie méridionale
Klapa singing is a multipart singing tradition of the southern Croatian regions of Dalmatia. Multipart singing, a capella homophonic singing, oral tradition and simple music making are its main features. The leader of each singing group is the first tenor, followed by several tenori, baritoni and basi voices. During performances, the...
EuropeCroatiaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
L’opéra Kun Qu
Kun Qu Opera developed under the Ming dynasty (fourteenth to seventeenth centuries) in the city of Kunshan, situated in the region of Suzhou in southeast China. With its roots in popular theatre, the repertory of songs evolved into a major theatrical form. Kun Qu is one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera still performed today. It is...
East AsiaChinaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le théâtre sanscrit, Kutiyattam
Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre, which is practised in the province of Kerala, is one of India’s oldest living theatrical traditions. Originating more than 2,000 years ago, Kutiyattam represents a synthesis of Sanskrit classicism and reflects the local traditions of Kerala. In its stylized and codified theatrical language, neta abhinaya...
South AsiaIndiaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Les traditions d’élevage des chevaux Lipizzan
Lipizzan horse breeding traditions were initially used to breed horses for the Habsburg imperial court in Vienna, but today the Lipizzan horse plays a special role in the everyday cultural and social life of communities in rural areas. They are included in events, celebrations and festivities such as horse blessings, carnival...
EuropeAustria / Bosnia and HerzegovinaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Les tableaux vivants de Galeras, Sucre
The Living Pictures of Galeras in Colombia is a collective and community-based artistic expression that consists of recreating static scenes related to religion, daily life, literature, current affairs, legends, or any other topic that may arise from the rich collective imaginary. The staging of a picture demands a concerted effort...
Latin America and CaribbeanColombiaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO urgent safeguarding list1 sources
La danse et musique de lyre arquée ma’di
The Ma’di bowl lyre music and dance is a cultural practice of the Madi people of Uganda. Passed on by the community’s ancestors, the songs and dances involved in the tradition are performed for various purposes, including weddings, political rallies, to celebrate good harvests, educate children, resolve conflict or mourn the passing of...
AfricaUgandaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le Mariachi, musique à cordes, chant et trompette
Mariachi is a traditional Mexican music and a fundamental element of Mexican culture. Traditional Mariachi groups, made up of two or more members, wear regional costumes adapted from the charro costume and interpret a broad repertoire of songs on stringed instruments. Ensembles playing ‘modern Mariachi’ include trumpets, violins, the...
Latin America and CaribbeanMexicoNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La međimurska popevka, chanson populaire traditionnelle de Međimurje
Međimurska popevka, a folksong from the Međimurje region, in the north-western part of Croatia, was historically predominantly a soloist vocal genre practised by women. Nowadays, it is performed by individuals and groups, men and women, in vocal, vocal-instrumental, instrumental, monophonic and multipart renditions, as a musical genre...
EuropeCroatiaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO urgent safeguarding list1 sources
Le Biyelgee mongol, danse populaire traditionnelle mongole
The Mongol Biyelgee – Mongolian Traditional Folk Dance is performed by dancers from different ethnic groups in the Khovd and Uvs provinces of Mongolia. Regarded as the original forebear of Mongolian national dances, Biyelgee dances embody and originate from the nomadic way of life. Biyelgee dances are typically confined to the small...
East AsiaMongoliaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO urgent safeguarding list1 sources
La calligraphie mongole
Mongolian calligraphy is the technique of handwriting in the Classical Mongolian script, which comprises ninety letters connected vertically by continuous strokes to create words. The letters are formed from six main strokes, known as head, tooth, stem, stomach, bow and tail, respectively. This meticulous writing is used for official...
East AsiaMongoliaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
L’art traditionnel du Khöömei mongol
Khöömei is a form of singing originating in western Mongolia, in the Altai mountains. The performer imitates sounds of nature, simultaneously emitting two distinct vocal sounds: along with a continuous drone, the singer produces a melody of harmonics. Khöömei literally means pharynx, and it is believed to have been learned from birds,...
East AsiaMongoliaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La morna, pratique musicale de Cabo Verde
Morna, musical practice of Cabo Verde is a traditional Cape Verdean musical and choreographic practice with instrumental accompaniment that incorporates voice, music, poetry, and dance. Morna can be either sung or played only with instruments, mainly chordophones, including the guitar, violin, ten-string guitar, replaced with a...
AfricaCabo VerdeNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La musique et la danse de la bachata dominicaine
The music and dance of Dominican Bachata is a danceable musical expression, deriving from a fusion of rhythmic bolero with other Afro-Antillean genres such as Son, the Cha-cha-cha, Merengue, etc. The Dominican people consider the music and dance of Bachata as a vernacular cultural manifestation, omnipresent in community celebrations and...
Latin America and CaribbeanDominican RepublicNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La musique et la danse du merengue en République dominicaine
The merengue is considered part of the national identity of the Dominican community. It plays an active role in various aspects of people’s daily lives – from their education to social gatherings and celebrations, even political campaigning. In 2005, the traditional practice was recognised by presidential decree with November 26...
Latin America and CaribbeanDominican RepublicNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le théâtre Nôgaku
Nôgaku theatre had its heyday in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, but actually originated in the eighth century when the Sangaku was transmitted from China to Japan. At the time, the term Sangaku referred to various types of performance featuring acrobats, song and dance as well as comic sketches. Its subsequent adaption to...
East AsiaJapanNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO urgent safeguarding list1 sources
Le chant Ojkanje
Ojkanje two-part singing, found in the Croatian regions of the Dalmatian hinterland, is performed by two or more singers (male or female) using a distinctive voice-shaking technique created by the throat. Each song lasts as long as the lead singer can hold his or her breath. Melodies are based on limited, mostly chromatic, tonal scales,...
EuropeCroatiaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le pantun
Pantun is a form of Malay verse used to express intricate ideas and emotions. It is a widespread oral form in maritime Southeast Asia. Pantun has a clear a-b-a-b rhyme scheme. The four-line variety is the most common. Pantuns may be transmitted in music, song and writing. Performances are headed by the ‘pemantun’ (the pantun narrator),...
Southeast AsiaIndonesia / MalaysiaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La Pirekua, chant traditionnel des P’urhépecha
Pirekua is a traditional music of the indigenous P’urhépecha communities of the State of Michoacán, Mexico, sung by both men and women. Its diverse mix of styles draws on African, European and indigenous American origins, with regional variations identified in 30 of the 165 P’urhépecha communities. A Pirekua, which is generally sung...
Latin America and CaribbeanMexicoNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La polonaise, danse polonaise traditionnelle
The polonaise is a joyful Polish group dance, which can be enacted by a few to even several hundreds of pairs marching in procession, following a trajectory proposed by the first pair. The basic step involves bending one leg while taking a step forward with the other. During the dance, the pairs perform various figures, such as raising...
EuropePolandNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La pratique de la musique et de la danse traditionnelles au Setesdal, jouer de la musique, danser et chanter (stev/stevjing)
In the practice of traditional music and dance in Setesdal, playing, dancing and singing (stev/stevjing), traditional dance and music belong together, interwoven in the social context. The melodies are named after the ‘gangar’ dance and are mostly dance tunes; the melodies of the ‘stev’ songs can be played on instruments, and the lyrics...
EuropeNorwayNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Les pratiques et savoirs liés à l’imzad des communautés touarègues de l’Algérie, du Mali et du Niger
Imzad music is a characteristic feature of Tuareg communities and is performed by women on a single-stringed bowed instrument known as the Imzad. The musician sits with the instrument on her knees and plays it with a wooden, arched bow. Imzad combines music and poetry and is frequently performed on ceremonial occasions in Tuareg camps....
AfricaAlgeria / MaliNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Les chants populaires Quan Họ de Bắc Ninh
In the provinces of Bắc Ninh and Bắc Giang in northern Viet Nam, many of the villages are twinned, reinforcing their relationship through social customs such as Quan họ Bắc Ninh folk songs. The songs are performed as alternating verses between two women from one village who sing in harmony, and two men from another village who respond...
Southeast AsiaViet NamNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le raï, chant populaire d'Algérie
Raï is a popular folk song from Algeria. A means of conveying social reality without taboos or censorship, Raï music touches on topics such as love, freedom, despair and social pressures. It was originally practised in rural settings by doyens who sang poetic texts in vernacular Arabic, accompanied by a traditional orchestra. At the...
AfricaAlgeriaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le reggae de Jamaïque
Having originated within a cultural space that was home to marginalized groups, mainly in Western Kingston, the Reggae music of Jamaica is an amalgam of numerous musical influences, including earlier Jamaican forms as well as Caribbean, North American and Latin strains. In time, Neo-African styles, soul and rhythm and blues from North...
Latin America and CaribbeanJamaicaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
L’art dramatique rituel du Ta‘zīye
Ta‘zīye (or Ta’azyeh) is a ritual dramatic art that recounts religious events, historical and mythical stories and folk tales. Each performance has four elements: poetry, music, song and motion. Some performances have up to a hundred roles, divided into historical, religious, political, social, supernatural, real, imaginary and fantasy...
South AsiaIran, Islamic Republic ofNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le Ballet royal du Cambodge
Renowned for its graceful hand gestures and stunning costumes, the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, also known as Khmer Classical Dance, has been closely associated with the Khmer court for over one thousand years. Performances would traditionally accompany royal ceremonies and observances such as coronations, marriages, funerals or Khmer...
Southeast AsiaCambodiaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La rumba à Cuba, mélange festif de musiques et de danses et toutes les pratiques associées
The music and movements of rumba in Cuba are mainly associated with African culture but also feature elements from Antillean culture and Spanish flamenco. Historically, rumba in Cuba developed in marginal neighbourhoods of cities in Cuba like Havana and Matanzas, near other ports and shanty towns and grew especially popular in rural...
Latin America and CaribbeanCubaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
Register of Good Safeguarding Practices1 sources
Le concept Kodály, sauvegarde du patrimoine musical traditionnel
Over the past century, the Kodály concept of safeguarding traditional folk music has helped to promote, transmit and document local practices in Hungary and assisted communities abroad for similar purposes. Devised by researcher, composer and pedagogue Zoltán Kodály and supported by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, it advocates:...
EuropeHungaryNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO urgent safeguarding list1 sources
La danse Saman
The Saman dance is part of the cultural heritage of the Gayo people of Aceh province in Sumatra. Boys and young men perform the Saman sitting on their heels or kneeling in tight rows. Each wears a black costume embroidered with colourful Gayo motifs symbolizing nature and noble values. The leader sits in the middle of the row and leads...
Southeast AsiaIndonesiaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO urgent safeguarding list1 sources
Le séga tambour des Chagos
Sega tambour Chagos is one of the types of Sega music of Mauritius, with origins in the Chagos Archipelago. Like other Sega music, it is born from slavery and sung in Chagossian Creole particular to the islands. Sega tambour Chagos is a gentle, vibrant and rhythmic performance of music, song and dance based on the ‘tambour’ – a large,...
AfricaMauritiusNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La semsemiah: fabrication et pratique musicale de l'instrument
Semsemiah is a popular harp-like instrument that is crafted and played among communities in the Suez Canal region. The body is attached to three wooden poles that form a triangle. The instrument is usually crafted by the players themselves, using natural or recycled materials such as wood or metal. The semsemiah is used by singers,...
Global DiasporasEgypt / Saudi ArabiaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La sevdalinka, chant folklorique urbain traditionnel
Sevdalinka is a form of traditional urban singing that is practised in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It originated as the result of a long process of acculturation that occurred when the traditional oral poetry of the South-Slavic population merged with the musical influences of the Ottoman Empire. Performed a capella or with the...
EuropeBosnia and HerzegovinaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO urgent safeguarding list1 sources
Le théâtre d’ombres
Shadow play is a traditional art consisting of handmade puppets moving behind a thin translucent curtain or screen inside a dark theatre, now practised mainly in Damascus. A light from behind the stage projects the shadows of the puppets onto the screen as they move along to an oral script and music. The theatrical content of Shadow...
Middle EastSyrian Arab RepublicNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Sona, dessins et figures géométriques sur le sable
Sona refers to drawings and geometric figures on sand. Practised by the Lunda Cokwe and neighbouring peoples in eastern Angola, it is a form of expression that seeks to convey beliefs, thoughts and emotions, as well as the relationship between human beings and nature. Practitioners mark reference points on a wet floor covered in sand...
AfricaAngolaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le chant de Sana’a
The Song of Sana’a, also known as al-Ghina al-San’ani, designates a group of songs that belongs to a rich musical tradition practised throughout Yemen. Derived from various poetic traditions dating from the fourteenth century, this genre constitutes an integral part of social events, such as the samra marriage evenings and the magyal,...
Middle EastYemenNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le talchum, danse théâtrale masquée en République de Corée
Talchum is a performing art that encompasses dance, music and theatre. An ensemble of six to ten musicians accompanies masked performers who humorously explore social issues through dramatic combinations of songs, dances, movements and dialogue. The practice uses caricatures of everyday characters to convey its underlying appeal to...
East AsiaKorea, Republic ofNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le Tango
The Argentinian and Uruguayan tradition of the Tango, now familiar around the world, was developed by the urban lower classes in Buenos Aires and Montevideo in the Rio de la Plata basin. Among this mix of European immigrants to the region, descendents of African slaves and the natives of the region known as ''criollos,'' a wide range of...
Latin America and CaribbeanArgentina / UruguayNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
L’art de la blouse traditionnelle avec broderie sur l'épaule (altiţă), élément de l’identité culturelle en Roumanie et en République de Moldova
The art of the traditional blouse with embroidery on the shoulder (called altiță) is an essential part of Romanian and Moldovan folk dress for men and women. It juxtaposes a simple cut with rich and colourful ornamentations that are stitched using complex sewing techniques. The blouses are white and made of natural fibres (flax, cotton,...
EuropeRomania / Moldova, Republic ofNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le Compas d'Haïti
Compas is a popular music and dance genre that holds deep cultural significance for the practising communities. As strong identifying factor, it brings together people of all ages, genders and backgrounds. The music is characterized by a syncopated rhythm and accompanied by instruments such as guitars, keyboards and drums. Compas...
Latin America and CaribbeanHaitiNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La pratique du son cubain
Son is a traditional music and dance practice that blends singing, instruments, rhythm and movement. It is performed in pairs or groups and combines improvisation with structured patterns. Son includes lyrics drawn from daily life, which are passed down orally, and brings together African and European musical influences. The dance is...
Latin America and CaribbeanCubaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La pratique de la danse moderne en Allemagne
Modern Dance is a form of physical expression distinct from classical ballet. Rather than reproducing predetermined dance positions, the dancers seek a true-to-life expression that reflects emotions and life experiences. The focus lies on solo pieces as well as on co-creation in small groups, and age, social status, origin, physical...
EuropeGermanyNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La pratique du chant lyrique en Italie
Italian opera singing is a physiologically controlled way of singing that enhances the carrying power of the voice in acoustic spaces such as auditoriums, amphitheatres, arenas and churches. Performed by people of all genders, it is associated with specific facial expressions and body gestures and involves a combination of music, drama,...
EuropeItalyNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
La fabrication et la pratique de la cornemuse traditionnelle (gayda/tulum)
The traditional bagpipe (Gayda/Tulum) is a traditional woodwind instrument that is made and performed across the area that includes the Republic of North Macedonia, and the Eastern Black Sea and Thrace regions of Türkiye. In North Macedonia, it consists of four parts: a melody pipe, a drone pipe, a blowing pipe and an air reservoir. In...
Global DiasporasNorth Macedonia / TürkiyeNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO representative list1 sources
Le séga mauricien traditionnel
Traditional Mauritian Sega Tipik is a vibrant performing art, emblematic of the Creole community and performed at informal private family events or in public spaces. Songs sung in a minor key gradually increase in tempo, as dancers move their hips and hands to a percussive beat, using short steps to manoeuvre around each other in a...
AfricaMauritiusNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO urgent safeguarding list1 sources
La musique traditionnelle pour flûte tsuur
Tsuur music is based on a combination of instrumental and vocal performance – a blending of sounds created simultaneously by both the musical instrument and the human throat. Tsuur music has an inseparable connection to the Uriankhai Mongolians of the Altai Region, and remains an integral part of their daily life. Its origins lie in an...
East AsiaMongoliaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
UNESCO urgent safeguarding list1 sources
La musique traditionnelle vallenato de la région du Magdalena Grande
Traditional Vallenato music fuses cultural expressions from northern Colombia, the songs of cow-herders of the Greater Magdalena region and the chants of African slaves with the traditional dance rhythms of the indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. These expressions are also blended with Spanish poetry and musical...
Latin America and CaribbeanColombiaNot specified in UNESCO dataset
Source supportedContext required
