PHNOM PENH: Cambodia is celebrating seven years of its treasured Chapei Dang Veng on the UNESCO Intangible Culture List this week.

On November 30, Prime Minister Hun Manet posted to his social media celebrating the recognition of the musical tradition as an irrefutable treasure of Cambodia’s cultural history. Chapei Dang Veng was inscribed on the UNESCO List in Ethiopia on November 30, 2016.

According to UNESCO, Chapei Dang Veng is a Cambodian musical tradition closely associated with the life, customs and beliefs of the Cambodian people. It features the chapei, a two or four-stringed lute, accompanied by singing that often tells stories or poems. The style can range from educational to social commentary and satire, which requires the musician to have wit, improvisation and storytelling skills.

The tradition was nearly erased by the Khmer Rouge, but a few masters of the art remain. In 2021, Cambodian hiphop star VannDa featured Chapei Master Kong Nay in his hit “Time to Rise.” With over 117 million views on Youtube alone, the song has brought Cambodia’s cultural heritage across the globe to a new generation.

Along with three temples inscribed as Heritage Sites by UNESCO, Cambodia has six intangible cultural items inscribed including Khmer shadow theater (Sbek Thom) and the Royal Ballet.