DELHI, December 10. /Dunyo IA/. The art of making and performing on the Karakalpak kobyz has been officially inscribed on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The historic decision was unanimously approved by the participants of the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, currently taking place in the capital of India.

This momentous event is the result of Uzbekistan’s dedicated efforts and underscores the global recognition of the unique cultural tradition of Karakalpakstan.

The inclusion of the art of the kobyz became the sixteenth element of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage to be inscribed on various UNESCO lists, confirming the country’s status as one of the world’s centers of ancient civilization and rich cultural heritage.

The kobyz is an ancient stringed bowed musical instrument widely used among Turkic peoples, especially the Karakalpaks, Kazakhs, and Kyrgyz people. It is traditionally made from a single piece of wood (often mulberry), has two horsehair strings, and produces a deep, sacred sound.

Zhırau are Karakalpak storytellers and poets who perform epic poems (dastans) and historical tales accompanied by the kobyz. The zhırau tradition represents a unique combination of musical and poetic art, conveying the history, philosophy, and spiritual values of the Karakalpak people.

Inscription on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding is necessary because this tradition, despite its significance, faces the threat of disappearing due to a declining number of master craftsmen and performers.

The participants of the session emphasized the importance of preserving this unique tradition for future generations.

The session of the Intergovernmental Committee is ongoing, and several events highlighting the significance of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage are scheduled in the near future.

In particular, today a side event titled “Reviving the Sacred Voice: the Kobyz and the Epic Tradition of the Zhırau of Karakalpakstan” will take place. The program includes live performances by prominent zhırau storytellers Bakbergen Syrymbetov and Dauranbek Yendirbekov, a screening of the documentary “Melodies of the Ancestors: Kobyz and Zhırau”, and a live demonstration of kobyz making by master craftsman Marat Zhaksymuratov.

On December 12, the session will consider the inclusion of a joint nomination of Karakalpak, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz yurts on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, marking another important step toward strengthening regional cultural cooperation.