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Home / News / “It is essential that Crimean Tatar music, and in particular ”Haytarma,“   to be included in UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity,” – Zarema Bariieva

“It is essential that Crimean Tatar music, and in particular ”Haytarma,“   to be included in UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity,” – Zarema Bariieva

November 10, 2025
The Khanenko Museum in Kyiv hosted the presentation of the anthology of Crimean Tatar music “QIRIM NAĞMELERİ” by Dzhemil Karikov, Honored Artist of Ukraine, outstanding Crimean Tatar composer, folk musician, teacher, and researcher of the traditional musical heritage of his people. The event was attended by Eskender Bariiev, Chairman of the Board of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, and Zarema Bariieva, manager of the CTRC.

“Dzhemil aga devoted his entire life to Crimean Tatar culture: the revival of authentic music, forgotten instruments, and the preservation of the musical memory of the Crimean Tatars,” said Zarema Bariieva.

According to her, the composer headed the Haytarma ensemble, was the chief conductor of the orchestra of the Crimean Tatar Theater , and founded the Maqam traditional music ensemble. Thanks to his work, dozens of almost lost pieces from the khanate period and ancient instruments were revived, including the saz, baglama, santur, nay, kemenche, zurna, and others. Dzhemil Karikov is also the author of the arrangement of the Crimean Tatar national anthem for choir and symphony orchestra, as well as the author of music for a number of theatrical performances, including Alim and Ainenny.

“Russia’s 250-year occupation of Crimea has caused significant damage to our musical culture. This is not only about depriving us of the opportunity to develop music itself, but also to study it fully, preserve it, and pass on academic knowledge to future generations of Crimean Tatars,” she emphasized.

Barieva recalled that for centuries, the Russian authorities destroyed the conditions for the natural development of Crimean Tatar music, closed music schools, and persecuted performers and cultural figures. After the 1944 deportation, Crimean Tatar music was banned altogether.

“However, Crimean Tatar music not only survived, but also became an important tool for preserving identity and non-violent struggle for their rights,” the CTRC manager emphasized.

She noted that the folklore of Ukraine’s indigenous people has always been a bearer of historical events, contributing to the preservation of language, patriotic education, and the self-organization of the Crimean Tatar national movement.

” Not everyone knows that many world-famous composers — M. Rimsky-Korsakov, A. Spendiarov, M. Glinka, A. Glazunov, A. Borodin, and others — used Crimean Tatar musical structures in their works. However, due to historical events, the theory of Crimean Tatar music did not develop,” – Barieva noted.

According to her, 65-year-old maestro Dzhemil Karikov has made a great contribution to the development of Crimean Tatar music theory, which will allow not only representatives of the indigenous people, but also Ukrainian and foreign composers to study and perform Crimean Tatar compositions.

“In the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the threat to the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, it is necessary that Crimean Tatar music, and in particular the Crimean Tatar ”Haytarma,“ be included in UNESCO’s representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity,” – she emphasized.

At the end, Zarema Bariieva thanked everyone who is involved in preserving Crimean Tatar culture:

“”Thanks to everyone who is developing and helping to restore and preserve our culture in this difficult time”.