10 December 2025, New Delhi - The Republic of Moldova and Romania mark a new major cultural achievement: “Cobza - knowledge, skills and traditional music” has been inscribed in New Delhi on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The decision was adopted during the meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held from 8 to 13 December in the capital of India, where 54 nomination files submitted by Member States were examined for inclusion on this prestigious list. The representatives of the 24 Member States of the Committee approved by consensus the joint nomination submitted by the Republic of Moldova and Romania.
The Republic of Moldova is represented in New Delhi by Corina Călugăru, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, as well as by Dana Paiu, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in India.
This international recognition makes a substantial contribution to the preservation and revitalization of the art of cobza performance, providing essential impetus both to the craftsmanship of luthiers who build the instrument and to cobza players who pass on a musical tradition of great depth. The cobza is a symbolic instrument of shared heritage, carrying repertoires transmitted from generation to generation, reflecting the cultural identity and creativity of communities on both banks of the Prut River.
The successful inscription was made possible through the combined efforts of experts and cultural institutions from the Republic of Moldova and Romania, the community of cobza players, and the communities that continuously promote and support the art of cobza performance. This achievement reflects the close cooperation between state authorities and tradition bearers, united by a shared commitment to protecting and promoting representative cultural heritage.
Thus, the cobza becomes the fifth joint element of the Republic of Moldova and Romania recognized by UNESCO, alongside Mărțișor, Men’s Group Caroling, Traditional Techniques of Carpet Weaving, and the Art of the Blouse with Altiță (Ia).
