Sevdalinka, the traditional urban and folk song of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

A press conference held on Wednesday by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina's (FBiH) Ministry of Culture and Sports celebrated this achievement, marking the culmination of years of dedicated effort.

“This is a proud moment for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The process was challenging, but it’s now successfully completed,” FBiH Minister of Culture and Sports Sanja Vlaisavljevic stated.

Mirela Milicevic Secic, the Assistant Minister who led the nomination process, highlighted the cultural significance of this recognition. “Sevdalinka now becomes part of the world's cultural mosaic, a true representative of our nation’s intangible heritage,” she said.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has previously inscribed several cultural traditions on UNESCO's list, including Zmijanje embroidery, Konjic woodcarving, and the traditional mowing customs in Kupres.

Academic institutions such as the University of Sarajevo and the University of Mostar provided critical support for the nomination. Tamara Karaca Beljak from Sarajevo’s Music Academy noted that this milestone opens the door for other traditional music forms from BiH to gain global recognition.

The official announcement will be made at the 19th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee in Paraguay. However, UNESCO has already confirmed that Sevdalinka met all five evaluation criteria, cementing its place on the list.

The ceremony concluded with a rendition of the song Kraj potoka bistre vode by Mensura Bajraktarevic.

The Ministry hopes this international recognition will inspire further efforts to preserve and promote Sevdalinka, as well as other cultural expressions that form the identity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.