Bosnia's 'Balkan Blues' Added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List

2024-12-30 5

In December, UNESCO added sevdalinka, or sevdah, to its list of intangible world cultural heritage. It's a genre of traditional folk music which dates back to the 16th-century Ottoman Empire. For the musicians who perform the mostly sad love songs also known as the "Balkan Blues," it is a victory that will help preserve an art form they love passionately.