Kolintang music recognized by UNESCO to perform in Paris

Kolintang music has been officially recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), a milestone that led the Indonesian Ministry of Culture to designate a National Kolintang Day. The recognition follows a long advocacy process initiated by the Kolintang community in Minahasa and supported by the national organization PINKAN (Persatuan Insan Kolintang Nasional Indonesia).

To celebrate this achievement, the musical group Rhythm of Minahasa (RoM) has been invited to perform in Paris from September 27 to October 2, 2026. The group will perform at events organized by the Indonesian Embassy and UNESCO headquarters. Additionally, the Mayor of Paris has invited the group to perform at Place des Muguets to provide cultural education to younger generations.

The repertoire for the Paris performances is designed to demonstrate the versatility of the instrument, featuring a mix of national and regional songs alongside jazz and European classical pieces, such as Alla Turca.