Traditional game Toguz korgool included in UNESCO Representative List

Bishkek, Dec. 18, 2020 / Kabar /. The traditional intellectual and strategic game Toguz korgool is included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic for UNESCO said.

This decision was made on Dec. 17, 2020 at the 15th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which takes place online in Kingston, Jamaica, from Dec. 14 to 19, 2020.

The nomination entitled "Traditional intellectual and strategic game Toguz Korgool, Togyz Kumalak, Mangala" is a joint nomination of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Turkey.

This nomination was prepared by the National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic for UNESCO jointly with the Toguz Korgool Federation, the Aigine Cultural Research Center in 2019. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, the representative office of the Kyrgyz Republic at UNESCO provided support in promoting the nomination in UNESCO.

In total, at the Committee meeting this year, 42 nominations were presented for inclusion in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, 4 nominations for the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and 4 nominations for the Register of Best Practices from different countries of the world.

Intangible cultural heritage includes customs and forms of creativity that have been passed down from generation to generation. These include oral traditions, performing arts, social ceremonies, festive and ritual ceremonies, knowledge and representations related to nature and the universe, as well as traditional craft techniques.