Tajikistan is advancing efforts to preserve its cultural heritage by proposing several national traditions for inclusion on UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage of Humanity list, according to Culture Minister Matlubakhon Sattoriyon. The National Commission for UNESCO is currently reviewing these nominations.
One notable nomination is the traditional game nardbozi, similar to backgammon, which has been submitted jointly with Iran. Tajikistan is also seeking recognition for the folklore tales of One Thousand and One Nights and the Toki tradition, both of which reflect the rich oral storytelling heritage of the Tajik people.
Aminzoda Abdufatto, director of the Research Institute of Culture and Information at the Tajik Ministry of Culture, emphasized that these proposals are part of a broader strategy to preserve Tajikistan’s cultural traditions while promoting them on the global stage.
In 2024, Tajikistan successfully inscribed several cultural elements on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List, including the Meҳrgon festival, a celebration of harvest and gratitude, and the art of playing the rubob, a stringed instrument central to the musical traditions of Tajikistan and neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan.
These recent initiatives underscore Tajikistan’s commitment to cultural diplomacy and its collaboration with neighboring countries in safeguarding shared traditions.
UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognizes cultural practices, knowledge, skills, and expressions that communities identify as part of their heritage. This recognition helps raise awareness of cultural diversity and encourages the protection and preservation of these traditions.
