Guantánamo – This Wednesday, December 10, 2025, the practice of Cuban Son was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, coordinated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The news was announced during the meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of this international organization, which is being held these days in New Delhi, India.
This decision was supported by a comprehensive and thorough dossier prepared by practitioners with the assistance of the Center for Research and Development of Cuban Music, the Cuban Institute of Music, the National Council of Houses of Culture, and the National Council of Cultural Heritage.
Recognized as an essential element of national cultural identity, Son, in its various forms, enjoys great vitality throughout the country and has extended its influence worldwide.
Since its origins in eastern Cuba, this musical and dance genre has been one of the foundational expressions of Cuban music, characterized by a high degree of hybridization with African and Hispanic musical traditions.
It reached its peak in the 1920s with the rise and development of commercial radio broadcasting. It was declared a National Cultural Heritage in 2012.
