The art of crafting, playing and singing with the lahuta – regarded as one of the most treasured elements of Albania’s cultural identity – has now gained international recognition as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.

Speaking on his podcast “Flasim” (Let’s Talk) on Sunday, Rama described the inscription as “one of the most meaningful successes of our Ministry of Culture and Tourism in protecting and promoting our national and cultural identity.”

Rama said the tradition of making the lahuta and performing epic songs accompanied by it had been formally recognised by UNESCO under its urgent safeguarding mechanism.

He recalled that the nomination file, prepared in line with UNESCO’s highest standards, was submitted in March 2024, and thanked all those involved in the process for their commitment and dedication.

The tradition of singing, playing and crafting the lahuta represents a core element of cultural identity in Albania’s rural northern regions and adjacent areas, cultivated over centuries in territories including Malësia e Madhe, Dukagjin, Malësia e Gjakovës, Rugova, Drenica, Plavë and Guci.

Through the hands of the lahutar, the Epic of the Frontier Warriors (Eposi i Kreshnikëve) and other northern Albanian ballads have for centuries conveyed values of bravery, resilience, honour, loyalty and hospitality.

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Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Elisa Spiropali reacted to the news highlighting the fact that the lute is part of the national spirit and our collective memory.

“Delighted and proud that the UNESCO has included the lute, one of the most precious treasures of our cultural identity “The Art of Playing, Singing and Making the Lute” on the List of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent protection. The lute is part of our national spirit, a sound of stories, legends and our collective memory,” wrote Spiropali.

According to her, “It is our obligation to protect and pass down this rare asset through the generations, so that its sound never fades.” /m.q/j.p/p.s./

Ilir Parangoni spoke about the steps taken by this foundation to enable the preparation of four national heritage files for registration in the UNESCO lists: Jubletta, Transhumance, i.e. the seasonal droving of livestock, Tropoja dance and the lute in the Songs of Frontier Warriors.

Also present was Australian researcher Susane Ogge-Milou, who has supported the work of the expert group since the beginning. The entire activity was directed with scientific and professional responsibility by the researcher Rigels Halili, a member of the working group.

Academicians Vasil S. Tole and Shaban Sinani, members of the working group from the Academy of Sciences, referred to the topic “The lute today in Albania: lute songs, rhapsodists and the craftsmanship of the instrument’s production”.

Academician Tole emphasized the importance of registering the lute and lute songs in the list of endangered properties of UNESCO.

“The work started 12 years ago by an initiative of the government of Kosovo, but was not successfully completed because Kosovo is still not a member of UNESCO”, said Tole.

In the following acad. Shaban Sinani presented the joint report, which opened with a significant fact for a successful future: in February of this year (2023), the Albanian lute player Anton Çivlaku opened the instrumental concert “Siparantum Choir” at the “Berlin Philharmonie”. The report focused on two main questions: Why should the lute be protected and how should the lute be protected.

At the end of the debates, the researchers proposed the adoption of a special protection status of the lute, the promotion of new rhapsodists, the assumption of responsibilities by the local government for financial support to them in the regions where the lute survives; completion of a map of the area where the traditional lute is kept and some other measures./p.s./