Save the Mariachis?

The United Nations Educational and Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) may be reeling from a congressionally mandated cut off of more than $80 million in U.S. contributions. But it demonstrated this week that it can still get things done. The Paris-based agency, convening in Bali, added Mariachi, the Mexican musical form, to its list of ...

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The United Nations Educational and Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) may be reeling from a congressionally mandated cut off of more than $80 million in U.S. contributions.

The United Nations Educational and Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) may be reeling from a congressionally mandated cut off of more than $80 million in U.S. contributions.

But it demonstrated this week that it can still get things done.

The Paris-based agency, convening in Bali, added Mariachi, the Mexican musical form, to its list of "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity."

It was one of 29 entries, including Chinese shadow puppetry and Cyrpiot poetry dueling, that were recognized this year by the international organization.

The good news is that Mariachi is not included in the list’s subcategory of 11 intangibles that are in need of safeguarding, like the Mongolian art of "circular breathing" and the secret society of Koredugaw in Mali.

Indeed, anyone who has been to a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles or on the New York subway system would know that it’s alive and well. 

But let’s look at it another way.

Why has it taken such a vibrant music form so long to get into the club, which has long included other cultural practices like Turkish oil wrestling, Croatian gingerbread crafts, French needle lacing, and Spanish human towers?

Follow me on Twitter @columlynch

Colum Lynch was a staff writer at Foreign Policy between 2010 and 2022. Twitter: @columlynch

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