The Committee
- Takes note that Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have nominated Art of crafting and playing rubab/rabab (No. 02143) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
One of the oldest musical instruments in Central, South and Southwest Asia, the rubab is a string instrument made with dried mulberry wood collected in deserts. It is played on many occasions, including for celebrations, weddings, funerals, gatherings and ritual healings. It is also a leading instrument in orchestral and contemporary music performances, including in multinational ensembles. Master players are highly respected as elders of their communities, typically initiating specific ceremonies and rituals. Rubab crafting is a traditional skill entailing carpentry, woodcarving, marquetry and inlay. It is typically transmitted through hands-on practice, often as a family tradition. Although rubab craftspeople are mostly men, players include people of both genders, regardless of ages, ethnicities and religious backgrounds. Poems and literature often allude to the rubab, and different cultures have related myths which are narrated by elders and masters in social gatherings. The rubab is a unifying factor among the people of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It contributes to cultural and social cohesion and has played a prominent role in promoting cultural exchanges and solidarity, especially among migrant communities.
- Considers that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
R.1: The rubab is a string instrument played on many occasions, including for celebrations, weddings, funerals, gatherings and ritual healings. In all the submitting States, craftsmen and players constitute the main communities and groups related to rubab. Craftsmen in all submitting States are mostly men, while there are several women who participate in some parts of crafting, especially decorating. Master players are highly respected as elders of their communities, typically initiating specific ceremonies and rituals. The knowledge and skills are typically transmitted through hands-on practice, often within families. In rural areas, players usually learn from local masters, whereas in urban areas they are trained by professors in music academies, conservatories, schools and cultural centres. The rubab is a unifying factor among the people of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It contributes to cultural and social cohesion and has played a prominent role in promoting cultural exchanges and solidarity, especially among migrant communities.
R.2: The element contributes to quality education, gender equality and inclusive economic development. The file also provides an explanation of the element’s contribution to sustainable development. Performing, teaching and crafting of rubab provides a source of income to crafters and practising communities. The process of crafting the rubab entails recycling dried tree trunks. The element also promotes relationships, solidarity and cultural exchanges among Iranian, Afghan, Tajik and Uzbek people.
R.3: The nomination provides a list of ten joint initiatives, emphasizing the participation of different communities in the implementation of these measures. Joint safeguarding measures include creating a multinational Rubab Heritage Association and forming a ‘rubab ensemble’ with players from all four States to globally promote the element. Following the inscription of the element, the submitting States are also planning a ceremony in Tehran involving master crafters and players from each submitting State. The nomination form also provides information on national safeguarding measures for each submitting State, including research, documentation and training. The file briefly explains the roles of the communities concerned in the planning and implementation of the measures in each State. Some states (e.g. Uzbekistan) listed the NGOs involved, while others (e.g. Afghanistan) provided little information on the communities involved.
R.4: Community participation in the nomination process began in 2017 in Iran, when local players from the Iranian-Baloch community proposed the idea of inscription to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A joint nomination proposal was then sent to Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Workgroups were formed in each of the four countries, including representatives from NGOs, local communities and UNESCO National Commissions, and coordination meetings and teleconferences were held as part of the preparation of the file. The nomination file was collaboratively prepared with input from NGOs, local communities, universities, music ensembles, and masters from all submitting States.
- Further considers that, from the information included in the file and the information provided by the submitting States through the dialogue process, the nomination satisfies the following criterion for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
R.5: The nomination file includes inventory information for all four countries, detailing the inventory names, the entities responsible for their maintenance and updates, and the dates of the element’s inclusion in each inventory. The file also indicates the involvement of communities, groups and other stakeholders in the inventorying process. Information regarding the frequency with which the inventories are updated was provided during the dialogue process.
- Decides to inscribe Art of crafting and playing rubab/rabab on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.