Cuban Son Declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO

The practice of Cuban Son has been included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing this expression of Cuba’s culture and identity.

This decision, announced during the 20th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in New Delhi, also highlights the Cuban government’s commitment to protecting traditions that represent the roots of the Caribbean nation.

Following the announcement, Sonia Pérez, president of the National Council of Cultural Heritage, stated that the news would be celebrated as a well-deserved tribute to the creativity and joy of the Cuban people.

It also serves as recognition for all Cuban and global Son performers, and for the countless bearers who have kept alive one of the most robust traditions of the nation’s cultural heritage.

She affirmed that its recognition as part of humanity’s valuable heritage honors creativity, collective memory, and the vitality of communities.

Pérez emphasized that, likewise, it brings visibility to a musical expression that has been a pillar of Cuban cultural identity and the Afro-Caribbean diaspora, while strengthening safeguarding efforts through documentation, intergenerational transmission, and support for practitioners.

She noted that the inclusion of Son in the list represents an opportunity to promote cultural cooperation, academic exchange, and the development of local capacities.

The official highlighted that Son, as both a musical and dance tradition, symbolizes Cubanness, transcends borders, and remains a living, vibrant, and deeply rooted expression in the nation’s heart.

Today, she stressed, we celebrate its universal value and reaffirm the Cuban State and Government’s commitment to its preservation, promotion, and safeguarding for present and future generations.

Finally, she acknowledged the new inscriptions to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, especially those from Latin America and the Caribbean, which reaffirm the richness, diversity, and resilience of the region’s cultures.

Originating in eastern Cuba, this music and dance genre constitutes one of the foundational expressions of Cuban music, blending African and Spanish musical traditions.

It reached its peak in the 1920s with the rise of commercial radio and was declared a National Cultural Heritage in 2012.

With its inclusion in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, it joins other native expressions such as Rumba, Punto Cubano, French Tumba, the central Cuban Parrandas, and Bolero.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez