Throughout history, Central Asia has possessed a multi-layered cultural heritage shaped by nomadic and semi-nomadic lifestyles, oral narrative traditions, and reciprocal relationships established with nature. Under the homogenizing pressure of modern nation-state building phases and globalization processes, this heritage was long relegated to a secondary status and often reduced to a folkloric or nostalgic scope.
Founded in 1945, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is an entity that aims to encourage international cooperation in the fields of education, science, and culture. UNESCO’s core mission is to contribute to the promotion of peace and mutual understanding by preserving cultural heritage, supporting inclusivity in education, and strengthening intercultural dialogue. In recent years, UNESCO has demonstrated an increasing interest in Central Asia, particularly regarding intangible cultural heritage.[i]
According to official UNESCO data, Central Asian states possess significant wealth in terms of both cultural and natural heritage. Kazakhstan holds a total of six UNESCO World Heritage sites, comprising three cultural and three natural areas. Kyrgyzstan is represented by a total of three heritage sites, with two cultural and one natural area. Tajikistan has a total of five UNESCO World Heritage sites, including three cultural and two natural ones. Turkmenistan features four cultural and one natural site, bringing its total to five. Uzbekistan ranks first in Central Asia with a total of seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, consisting of five cultural and two natural areas. This distribution demonstrates that Central Asia’s historical, cultural, and natural diversity is recognized on a global scale.[ii]
As one of the oldest stringed instruments in the Turkic world, the kobyz stands out not merely as a musical tool, but as a cultural carrier intertwined with shamanic rituals, epic storytelling, and collective memory. With historical roots dating back to the 5th–8th centuries, this instrument is one of the primary elements ensuring the continuity of oral culture in Central Asia. Particularly in the Karakalpakstan region of Uzbekistan, the kobyz, preserved within the zhyrau tradition, has been able to survive to the present day through specialized techniques and ritual knowledge passed down from master to apprentice.[iii]
Beyond this information, the inclusion of traditional musical instruments like the kobyz and symbolic elements of nomadic architecture such as the yurt within the scope of UNESCO is considered a multi-dimensional process with dimensions of identity, politics, and cultural diplomacy, rather than merely cultural recognition. While this recognition enables the global-scale legitimization of the intergenerational knowledge transfer tools of Central Asian societies, it simultaneously reveals that this heritage is under serious threat. Consequently, this process occurring within the UNESCO framework occasionally brings discussions of preservation, sustainability, and cultural appropriation to the fore.[iv]
Similarly, the yurt stands out for Central Asian nomadic societies not merely as a form of shelter, but as an architectural reflection of the traditional perception of space, social relations, and a philosophy of life in harmony with nature. The Karakalpak yurt, with its structural design, symbolic ornamentations, and functional flexibility, offers an original example of this tradition. Historically, the yurt has played a decisive role in many different areas, from marriage to social status, and has remained at the center of collective life. UNESCO’s inclusion of the Karakalpak yurt in the Representative List has enabled the reintegration of nomadic heritage into modern national identity narratives. This stage brings about not only the preservation of cultural heritage but also its use as a strategic tool within the scope of international visibility, tourism, and cultural diplomacy.[v]
From this point of departure, it is evident that cultural recognition in Central Asia is not limited solely to nomadic heritage. The inclusion of the ancient Khuttal region in Tajikistan into the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Paris on July 12, 2025, makes visible the region’s settled civilization history, its architectural sophistication, and its historical role on the Silk Road. This situation demonstrates that Central Asian cultural heritage is far too diverse to be reduced to a one-dimensional narrative.[vi]
Furthermore, the UNESCO General Conference held in Samarkand on October 30, 2025—held there for the first time in forty years—and Uzbekistan’s deepening cooperation with UNESCO clearly demonstrate how cultural heritage is positioned within the contexts of global governance and foreign policy. In this scope, the subject of cultural heritage has become an essential component of national prestige, soft power, and claims to regional leadership.[vii]
UNESCO’s recognition of tangible and intangible cultural heritage elements in Central Asia strengthens the region’s position within the global cultural system and renders its historical continuity visible on an international scale. Elements such as the kobyz and the Karakalpak yurt are not merely traces of the past; they are dynamic structures that live, transform, and shape social identity.
However, it is clear that this international recognition alone is not sufficient. The sustainability of cultural heritage becomes possible only through the inclusion of younger generations in this process at the local level, the support of master practitioners, and the integration of traditional knowledge systems into contemporary life. Otherwise, elements included in UNESCO lists run the risk of turning into symbolic showcase items.
The Central Asian example demonstrates that the preservation of cultural heritage is not merely a technical phase, but a multi-dimensional field that requires social ownership, political will, and the strengthening of intergenerational bonds. In this respect, the UNESCO process can create both an opportunity and a long-term area of responsibility for this region.
[i] “UNESCO in brief”, UNESCO, https://www.unesco.org/en/brief#:~:text=Who%20we%20are,science%2C%20culture%2C%20and%20communication, (Access Date: 02.02.2026).
[ii] “Information on UNESCO Lists and Networks in Central Asia”, UNESCO, https://www.unesco.org/sites/default/files/medias/fichiers/2025/09/Final%20Deliverables%20-%20Map%20ENG.pdf, (Access Date: 02.02.2026).
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] “Музыкальный инструмент «Кобыз» и юрта «Каракалпак» внесены в список объектов всемирного наследия ЮНЕСКО”, The Times Of Central Asia, https://timesca.com/kobyz-musical-instrument-and-karakalpak-yurt-added-to-unesco-heritage-list/, (Access Date: 02.02.2026).
[v] Ibid.
[vi] “Хутталҳои қадимии Тоҷикистон ба Феҳристи мероси ҷаҳонии ЮНЕСКО шомил карда шуданд”, The Times of Central Asia, https://timesca.com/ancient-khuttal-in-tajikistan-added-to-unesco-world-heritage-list/, (Access Date: 02.02.2026).
[vii] “Samarqandda bo’lib o’tgan YuNESKO konferensiyasi O’zbekiston merosini yoritib berdi”, The Times of Central Asia, https://timesca.com/unesco-conference-in-samarkand-highlights-uzbekistans-heritage/, (Access Date: 02.02.2026)
