Indonesia Aims to Harmonize Kolintang with UNESCO’s Heritage List

via Antara, 07 October 2023: Indonesia is working to have its traditional musical instrument, Kolintang, recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. The instrument originates from Minahasa, North Sulawesi Province. Initially aiming for a single nomination, the government shifted its strategy to an extension scheme after discovering that a similar instrument from West Africa, called balafon, is already recognized by UNESCO.

Kolintang is a musical instrument made of wood from Minahasa, North Sulawesi Province.

The ministry’s director of cultural protection, Judi Wahjudin, stated when contacted in Jakarta on Saturday that initially, the government had sought to propose the inscription of kolintang on the list through the single nomination scheme.

However, the government decided to change its plan after finding that a similar musical instrument from West Africa, called balafon, has already been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

“Since a similar musical instrument has been registered, we switched to fighting for the recognition of kolintang as UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage through the extension scheme, meaning that we are seeking to incorporate kolintang into the same musical instrument group (with balafon),” he elaborated.

Source: Indonesia seeks to inscribe kolintang on UNESCO’s world heritage list – ANTARA News