Paris, 10 December 2025. – During the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in New Delhi, India, the practice of Cuban son was officially inscribed today on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
This decision constitutes the highest international institutional recognition for this musical and dance expression, a fundamental synthesis of the African and Spanish heritages that forged the Cuban national identity. Son thus stands as the most authentic and syncretic sonic exponent of Cubanía (Cuban identity), a living practice transmitted from generation to generation and strengthening community bonds.
Born in the rural communities of eastern Cuba in the late 19th century, son spread throughout the island during the 20th century, becoming the backbone of much of Cuban and Latin American popular music. Its inscription on the UNESCO list highlights not only its unparalleled rhythmic and poetic richness but also the crucial role of its bearers—families, musicians, dancers, and teachers—in the preservation and constant renewal of this tradition.
The declaration underscores the commitment to safeguard and promote this cultural manifestation. In line with the objectives of the 2003 Convention, it implies the need to stimulate research, support its practitioners, strengthen teaching spaces, and showcase both its traditional forms and its contemporary fusions. This international recognition reinforces the actions Cuba is undertaking in this regard.
With this inscription, Cuban son joins other Cuban musical expressions already recognized by UNESCO, such as Cuban punto, rumba, and bolero, consolidating the island culture's prominent place on the world heritage stage and reaffirming the country's creative diversity.
In his opening remarks to the Committee session, UNESCO Director-General Dr. Khaled El-Enany emphasized the essential role of intangible cultural heritage as a pillar of cultural diversity and an engine for dialogue among communities. The inscription of son is a living testament to this principle.
The Permanent Delegation of Cuba to UNESCO celebrates this achievement, the result of a broad and collective national effort involving artists, experts, governmental institutions, the cultural community, and the Cuban people as a whole. This shared success confirms that son, more than a musical genre, is an identity-defining heartbeat, a bridge between generations, and an enduring symbol of the history and creativity of the Caribbean.
The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity aims to give visibility to the traditions and knowledge of communities, without conferring exclusivity or property rights. Its central goal is to promote cultural diversity and human creativity on a global scale.