Sevdalinka inscribed on UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage

(Patria) - Sevdalinka, the Bosnian-Herzegovinian urban and folk song, has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

On this occasion, the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports highlighted that the process of inscribing sevdalinka on the UNESCO Representative List lasted several years, but thanks to exceptionally dedicated work, despite numerous difficulties, this process has been completed.

“Today is the festive moment when the Federal Ministry, which indeed nominated sevdalinka, has the opportunity to say that this process is completed, I am convinced to the great joy of all residents, not only of the Federation of BiH, but of the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said the Minister of Culture and Sports of the FBiH, Sanja Vlaisavljević.

Assistant Minister Mirela Milićević Šečić, who worked with her team on the process of inscribing sevdalinka on the UNESCO Representative List, stated that with this act, sevdalinka becomes “a part of the world's cultural mosaic, a worthy representative of the culture of our peoples and the richness of the intangible heritage of our country.”

She reminded that Bosnia and Herzegovina, within this category, has so far inscribed on the UNESCO list the Zmijanje embroidery, Konjic woodcarving, picking of iva grass on Ozren, the mowing custom on Kupres, and within the serial nomination, the breeding of Lipizzaner horses.

“The 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage is being held in Paraguay, where the inscription of sevdalinka will be formalized. But it is very important that we already received an official report from the UNESCO evaluation body a month ago, which spent a year reviewing all elements of our nomination in order to form its opinion on it. By all five criteria, sevdalinka has met all conditions and its place on this world list is completely unquestionable,” said Milićević Šečić.

Academic community provided expert support in the preparation of the nomination document, with the participation of representatives from two higher education institutions, the University of Sarajevo and the University of Mostar.

Tamara Karača Beljak from the Music Academy of the University of Sarajevo stated that this institution works extensively on promoting traditional music of BiH.

“This inscription of sevdalinka, and we are immensely happy about it, has opened doors for us and shown how work can be done and how other forms of traditional music of Bosnia and Herzegovina can also reach that UNESCO Representative List,” said Karača Beljak.

Lidija Vladić-Mandarić, a professor at the University of Mostar, who also participated in the process of inscribing sevdalinka on the list, said in a written message that “this recognition is not only a confirmation of its exceptional value, but also an invitation to all of us to take responsibility for its permanent protection and transmission.”

“Sevdalinka is not just a musical expression. It is living history, a song that carries the voice of the people, a testimony to past times and feelings that unite us. At the University of Mostar, and especially at the Music Studies program, we are deeply aware of the power of sevdalinka as a cultural phenomenon and its immense significance in shaping our Bosnian-Herzegovinian identity,” said Vladić-Mandarić.

Today's conference began with a performance of the sevdalinka "Kraj potoka bistre vode" interpreted by Mensura Bajraktarević.

The Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports believes that this international recognition will encourage further work on the promotion of sevdalinka, as well as projects for the preservation of numerous other cultural expressions that are part of the cultural identities of the peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina.