PESHAWAR: Musicians and folk artists have hailed the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unseco) for accepting their proposal to designate May 31 as International Rabab Day.

A statement issued here on Friday quoted Unseco as saying the art of crafting and playing Rabab was praised for its role in fostering cultural and social cohesion across diverse communities.

Mafkoora, a not-for-profit organisation for research and development, and Hunari Welfare Society, KP artists’ body, wrote a letter to the Unesco country office in Islamabad on June 10, 2024, proposing to designate May 31 as International Rabab Day keeping in view its importance in promoting peace and social cohesion in the region.

The Unseco officially recognised the art of crafting and playing Rabab as an intangible cultural heritage, acknowledging the cultural significance of this ancient musical instrument for Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries, including Iran, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the statement said.

Musicians say Unesco’s move matter of pride for Pakhtuns

Hayat Roghani, chief executive officer of Mafkoora, told Dawn that the inscription was approved on Dec 4 during the 19th session of Unseco’s intergovernmental committee for safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage that took place in Paraguay.

Rabab, he said was one of the oldest string musical instruments in central and south Asia occupying an esteemed place in the cultural traditions of the region.

“Crafted from dried mulberry wood traditionally gathered from desert regions, Rabab has been central part of Pashto folk music for centuries known for its heart touching tunes and its magical impact on the audience,” Mr Roghani observed.

Rashid Ahmad, chief of Hunari Welfare Society, said it was a matter of great pride for Pakhtuns across the globe that Rabab, most commonly known as king instrument of Pashto orchestra, got official recognition at the international level. He said that it not only featured its rich musical legacy but also its enduring role maintaining cultural identity and promoting unity across diverse communities in central Asia and beyond.

Gulabkhel Afridi, a noted Rabab player, termed the development a great breakthrough towards revival of the traditional Pashto music. He stated that Rabab was deeply woven into the fabric of local literature with many poems and myths associated with it often repeated by elders during community gatherings.

“Rabab craftsmen and players have preserved it as both tangible and intangible cultural heritage despite odds,” Mr Afridi maintained.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2024