Defining the Intangible: Negotiating Intangible Cultural Heritage in Modern Oman

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), particularly traditional music, is vital yet vulnerable. Traditional music intertwines with cultural rituals, embodying spirituality and diverse human experiences. However, how cultural heritage is negotiated and preserved in modern Oman remains underexplored. This study utilizes ethnographic interviews with government officials, institutional archivists, grassroots archivists, and musicians to reveal perspectives on preserving Omani musical heritage. Findings indicate that governmental institutions regard ICH as pivotal for national identity, tourism, unification, and economic growth, prioritizing structured archiving and formal presentation. Institutional archives thus provide extensive yet static collections of musical recordings and visual media, emphasizing curated representations over dynamic authenticity. Conversely, grassroots archivists favor participatory, flexible preservation methods driven by personal commitment and cultural concerns. They document live, spontaneous musical events, leveraging social media to promote community engagement and cultural continuity. Grassroots efforts effectively capture the evolving, lived experience of musical traditions, complementing institutional strategies. The coexistence of institutional and grassroots archival practices creates a balanced preservation framework, combining structured protection with community-driven authenticity. This dual approach provides a holistic model for sustaining Omani musical heritage as both a national asset and a living tradition.