In today’s globalized world, the diversity of cultures and the preservation of traditions are communicated not only through language but also through music and art. These forms of expression serve not only as emotional outlets but also as symbols of national identity and historical memory. In this process, numerous artists, musicians, and artisans are working hard to maintain and promote their traditions, especially within marginalized and forgotten cultural groups.
In recent years, many cultural events around the world, such as the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in the United States, have become vital platforms for cultural exchange and tradition preservation. These events allow artists and musicians from diverse backgrounds to showcase their crafts, giving the world a glimpse of the profound heritage behind each culture.
For example, Evelyn del Rosario Morán Cojoc, a Maya artist from Guatemala, is not only an accomplished painter but also a passionate teacher. Her works and educational philosophy are deeply rooted in her Maya heritage. At the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, she collaborated with a group of Latin American students to create a massive mural that depicted traditional foods from Maya culture, such as floating corn and three yellow beans.
For Morán Cojoc, art is not just a tool for aesthetic expression; it is also a means of helping the younger generation reclaim their identity and cultural pride. Since 2012, she has been teaching across Guatemala, encouraging her students to express elements of their indigenous culture, such as cacao—considered a sacred gift by the Maya and the source of chocolate.
Her students included 17-year-old Kevin Cabrera Sanchez, who incorporated the national instrument of Guatemala—the marimba—into the mural, and 18-year-old Selvin Vail Diaz, who painted various colors of corn, each symbolizing one of the four cardinal directions. For these students, creating this mural was more than just an artistic endeavor; it was a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving their cultural heritage. As Kevin said, “Our culture is dying, so it’s really important to preserve it and spread awareness.”
In addition to visual art, music also plays a crucial role in cultural preservation. One example is Eber Quisbert, a Bolivian rapper who fuses traditional indigenous languages with modern hip-hop. Quisbert, along with his mentee Carlos Orellana, uses Spanish mixed with Quechua and Aymara—two indigenous languages from Bolivia—to create music that helps keep their native cultures alive.
In a country where Spanish is dominant, native languages are often viewed as inferior, but Quisbert and Orellana aim to change this perception by infusing their music with the power of indigenous languages.
For Orellana, learning Quechua wasn’t an easy journey. His father grew up speaking the language but did not pass it on to him due to societal pressures and racism. However, as he matured, Orellana began reconnecting with his roots, using Quechua in his lyrics to assert his cultural identity.
Their song “Jina Jina Mayma,” which blends Quechua and Guarani, tells the story of the tensions between Bolivia’s indigenous regions and encourages unity.
As Quisbert explains, “Languages are like living beings. They are born, they grow, and then they have families.” This belief is at the core of their mission—to keep their indigenous languages alive through their music, giving them a voice in a predominantly Spanish-speaking society.
Another example of the preservation of traditional arts can be found in the Delgado family, renowned guitar makers from Tennessee. Manuel Delgado and his two daughters, Ava and Lila, continue a legacy that began in 1928, creating and restoring guitars using old-world Mexican techniques.
Their family’s craft has earned them recognition from artists such as Los Lobos and Dolly Parton, who use their custom-made instruments. Ava and Lila, though both skilled in the craft, have not yet decided whether they will continue the family business, but they are deeply aware of the cultural significance of their work.
The Delgados’ guitars are made using traditional methods, such as crafting the neck and body from a single block of wood, which is believed to improve the tone. Their instruments are in such high demand that there is a three-year waitlist.
For the sisters, the act of building guitars is not just a way to carry on a family tradition; it’s a way to preserve a piece of cultural history. “We’re losing so much culture,” Ava says. “So keeping this raw, handmade thing alive is really important.”
While many young people today are increasingly distant from their cultural roots, there are still groups working to revitalize and pass on these traditions. One such example is the Karen Weaving Circle, a group of refugee weavers in Minnesota who are passing down the ancient art of Karen weaving.
Rosie Say, a 65-year-old Karen master weaver, and her student Ku Say, a 24-year-old from the same community, are dedicated to preserving this craft. Despite the decades of conflict and discrimination the Karen people faced in Myanmar, the tradition of weaving has endured.
For Rosie, weaving is more than a craft—it is a form of cultural survival. She recalls how she began weaving as a way to combat the depression she faced after immigrating to the U.S., and how it became a way for her to connect with her cultural identity. Ku, who was born in a refugee camp in Thailand, learned the craft from both her mother and Rosie.
She says, “I didn’t get a chance to learn my history at all, and the Karen people weren’t allowed to speak their native language or study their history. I feel proud when I weave because I feel like I have an opportunity to learn about my tradition.” For both Rosie and Ku, weaving is a bridge between the old world and the new, connecting the past to the future.
Through the efforts of artists, musicians, and artisans like these, traditional cultures around the world continue to thrive in the modern age. Their works, whether in the form of visual art, music, or handcrafted objects, serve as a powerful testament to the resilience of cultural identities in a rapidly changing world.
As we face increasing globalization and the pressures of modernization, it is these cultural stewards who are ensuring that the voices of the past continue to be heard, and that the traditions that have shaped them will endure for generations to come. Through their artistry and craftsmanship, they remind us that culture is not static—it is alive, evolving, and always worth preserving.