Hmmm... I\'ve now had time to read the site and view the video. Certain things strike me as inaccurate, and I find it mildly amusing that the authors (translators?) have used a spelling usually reserved for Tuvan varieties.
I\'ve studied throat-singing for many years and have heard many theories and claims as to it\'s origin, and believe that it will not be settled. And I\'ve heard it claimed that there is a tradition of throat-singing in Inner Mongolia (now China) but have seen little documentation of such being traditional. Also, there are believed to have been throat-singing among various ethnic groups in the Chinese Altai region, though I\'m told such tradition may barely remain (if that).
Looking a bit deeper, it appears to me that khoomei should be instead listed as a Multinational but instead is listed under China. I\'ve sent the following to UNESCO:
Greetings,
I am writing in regard to the listing of Khoomei by China on the Intangible Heritage List. As the article at (link deleted) mentions, Khoomei is a vocal art shared by singers in the nation of Mongolia, the Russian Republic of Tuva, and other areas in the vicinity of the Altai region of central Asia. It is in fact recognized around the world as most strongly associated with Tuva and Mongolia.
I know personally that UNESCO has prior involvement with Khoomei in Tuva, having attended in 1995 a Khoomei Festival and Symposium sponsored in part by UNESCO.
Therefore I respectfully suggest that Khoomei should be listed instead as Multinational on the Intangible Heritage List. Regions included should include at the least the Russian areas of the Altai Republic, Khakassia, and Tuva, the nation of Mongolia, and certain areas in China, and possibly others.
Sincerely,
Steve Sklar
I support this petition. Why don\'t China stop steal everything? There is nothing that is truly under their name. Shame on you! This country have nothing that they can proud of. .