Cobza has been included in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Minister of Culture Demeter Andras welcomed on Wednesday the inscription on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the "the craftsmanship and performance" of the Romanian cobza (which is a pear-shaped traditional string instrument with a short neck and wooden body)."It is official! The craftsmanship and performance of the Romanian cobza have been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity! The file, coordinated by Romania's Ministry of Culture and prepared in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova, was accepted by the Intergovernmental Committee of the Convention for the Intangible Cultural Heritage just moments ago, within the session held in New Delhi," Demeter Andras said in a Facebook post.The minister underscored that "our efforts to present this heritage rigorously - which has left a deep mark on Romania's traditional musical repertoire - represent only the visible part of the work carried out over generations by craftsmen and performers. Today, these efforts have been rewarded." "The unmistakable sound of this instrument now has an even brighter future," he added.On this occasion, the two Ministers of Culture of Romania and the Republic of Moldova held a phone conversation in which they congratulated each other and discussed a forthcoming meeting, which will take place soon in Bucharest, the Ministry of Culture informed.Romania's delegation was led by Ambassador Simona-Mirela Miculescu, the Permanent Delegate of Romania to UNESCO, and also included Ioana Baskerville, the President of the National Commission for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.Cobza has been included in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage, Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate on Relationship with UNESCO Dumitrita Gliga announced on Wednesday."Romania marks a new cultural achievement at the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO), held in New Delhi from 8 to 13 December 2025. The file "Cobza - traditional knowledge, skills and music," submitted by Romania together with the Republic of Moldova, has been officially inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity," the release issued on Wednesday by Chairperson Dumitrita Gliga informs.According to the quoted source, through this decision cobza becomes the 11th Romanian element of intangible heritage recognised by UNESCO, "strengthening Romania's steady path in protecting and promoting the living heritage - a heritage anchored in practices passed down from generation to generation, in cultural continuity and in responsibility towards the tradition that defines us." (Photo:https://www.cultura.ro/)