President Milanović attends concert “Večer međimurske popevke“ which marked the Međimurje folk song being inscribed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage
The President of the Republic, Zoran Milanović, attended the concert “Evening of Međimurje Folk Songs”, which was held as part of the “Month of Međimurje Folk Songs” event, on the day when the Međimurje Folk Song was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018.
The “Month of Međimurje Folk Songs” is held under the patronage of the President of the Republic from 4 to 29 November, with numerous lectures on folk songs and intangible heritage, as well as exhibitions and concerts. The event also marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of the ambassador of Međimurje Folk Songs, Elizabeta Toplek – Teta Liza.
Međimurje Folk Songs became part of the UNESCO Representative List on 28 November 2018, and the Međimurje County Assembly proclaimed that date as Međimurje Folk Songs Day with the aim of encouraging work with children and young people in day care centres and schools as a pledge for the future of the native treasure.
The Međimurje County as part of the “Međimurje Song Month” programme celebrated the Međimurje Song Day by presenting a promotional publication that brings together the records and testimonies of experts and guardians of the song. Thus, on the eve of the concert, a promotional book called “Međimurska popevka – blago čovječanstva: Ti si meni po sredini srca” (Međimurje Song – a treasure of humanity: You are in the middle of my heart) was presented in the hall of the “Riznica of Međimurje” museum, after the verse of the famous song ‘Dej mi, Bože, oči sokolove’ (Give me, God, the eyes of falcons), which was often performed during her lifetime by the greatest promoter of the Međimurje song, Elizabeta Toplek – Aunt Liza from Donja Dubrava. In Međimurje, around 1,800 people currently nurture and preserve the song through dedicated work in around 70 cultural and artistic societies.
Alongside President Milanović was the Special Adviser to the President for Culture Zdravko Zima.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas