Phnom Penh, November 30, 2019 –Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen has extended his congratulations on the celebration of the 3rd anniversary of the listing of Chapei Dang Veng, a Cambodian two-stringed, long-necked guitar, as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.
In a Facebook post this morning, the Premier said Chapei Dang Veng is one of the oldest musical instruments of Cambodia as engraved on Angkor Wat Temple’s walls.
“[…] Chapei songs usually narrate tales or short stories to educate people about virtue and culture, etc.,” underlined Samdech Techo Hun Sen.
The Prime Minister also thanked all stakeholders, especially the Chapei players for their contribution to conserving this traditional instrument and the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts for its efforts in having Chapei Dang Veng inscribed on the UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Moreover, Samdech Techo Hun Sen called on all his compatriots to continue taking part in preserving the national cultural heritage.
Chapei Dang Veng was listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding on Nov. 30, 2016, at the eleventh session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which took place in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Other Cambodian heritages registered so far on the World Heritage List include the Historic Site of Angkor inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1992, Preah Reach Troap Dance (Royal Ballet) and Lakhon Sbek Thom (big shadow puppet) proclaimed masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, respectively in 2003 and 2005, the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008, Teanh Prot (tug-of-war), a popular recreational game, named an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015, Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex registered as a World Heritage Site in 2017, and Cambodia Lkhon Khol inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2018.
By C. Nika
