On March 13th, Germany expanded its UNESCO Cultural Heritage list to include six new entries. Among these were mountaineering in Saxony, a fruit wine called viez and "techno culture in Berlin." According to UNESCO, an "understanding of the intangible cultural heritage of different communities helps with intercultural dialogue, and encourages mutual respect for other ways of life." This is infuriating when you consider techno's origins.

Techno is an invention of the cultural and musical progressions of the predominantly Black youth in and around Detroit in the mid-'80s. It took off in parallel to what was happening in Chicago and New York with house and hip-hop respectively. These new movements would go on to redefine popular music and nightclubs in the late 20th century. Although hip-hop went on to have immense influence in the US, techno and house initially found more acclaim in Europe. In its press release, the German Commission said techno "is based on various musical developments" and "emerged" from "DJ culture" to become "the soundtrack of the spirit of optimism after [German] reunification." These are bold claims to make while also failing to mention Detroit or the genre's founders.

The African diaspora is directly responsible for most of the musical innovations in the 20th century—but you wouldn't know that from looking at the UNESCO list. Capoeira and samba de roda from Brazil; Jamaica's reggae and Maroon heritage; and bachata, merengue and Cocolo dancing in the Dominican Republic are the only heritages from African descent in the Western hemisphere to make the cut. It's worth noting here that the US has yet to ratify the 2003 UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage, which means that, alongside the likes of Australia and Canada, it can't put any entries forward for the honour. (This is different to the broader UNESCO organisation, which the US rejoined in 2023 after a five-year absence.) Until the US signs the Convention, Detroit techno may never be recognised by UNESCO.

That said, the failure of the German Commission to mention Detroit in its press release is its own injustice. (It's also no isolated incident: a recent BBC feature on Berlin techno and UNESCO overlooks Detroit and the genre's Black founders.) House, hip-hop and techno are a continuation of the soul music tradition that includes blues, jazz, gospel, R&B and rock & roll. These genres all originate within African American culture and are intrinsically tied to the plight and status of African peoples under a global system that consistently dehumanised them. Through this art we found success and freedom of expression. Music and entertainment have historically been some of the few avenues available to the descendants of chattel slavery. Many people love to dispute the origins of these genres—and techno is among the most contested. I've argued with people who say things like, "techno wouldn't have survived without Europe." This combination of arrogance and ignorance has always dumbfounded me. The insinuation here is clear: nothing is valuable until it's accepted into the mainstream of white society.

When it comes to the plight of African Americans, the UNESCO fiasco is just another slight in a long line of injustices. Again and again, things that are first considered low brow and of low intellectual substance are later celebrated—as soon as they're out of Black hands. If society as a whole wants to heal, to recognise and protect those who have been the victims of exploitation, then everyone must do better. Where would Berlin techno be if not for Underground Resistance, Mike Huckaby or Jeff Mills? How can such blatant disregard for African humanity be put on display in the name of cultural capital? Why is it so hard for Europeans to clearly and emphatically give credit where credit is due?

You only need to look at the state of the world in 2024 to see the answers. It's the same mentality that allows people to demand respect for Ukraine while remaining silent on the plight of Palestine and the countless horrors that occur in Africa to make Western life convenient. Quick lip service, a batch of token bookings and corporate sponsorships will be paraded around as progress—but there needs to be more. It's bigger than just nightlife and UNESCO honours. There needs to be a shift in consciousness, a new reckoning in how we live and act to mend these wounds.