It plays in homes, on the streets and in the hearts of every Colombian. And on Tuesday vallenato was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

The origin of the musical genre is a mashup of folk, Colombia's native population and European immigrants. According to Smithsonian.com, vallenato is a musical melting pot, derived from various aspects of local history. Smithsonian notes that the dominant instrument is the accordion, which was brought to South America by European immigrants. It is accompanied by an instrument called caja drum, that the site says that it evolved from those once used by African slaves and also by a notched stick that provides a percussion called the guacharaca. The resulting music was first documented in the late 1800's they add

According to UNESCO an Intangible cultural heritage also known as "living heritage," refers to the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills transmitted by communities from generation to generation.

To be sure, vallenato is a vial social thread in Colombia. From house parties to concerts and festivals its familiar accordion sound brings people together. "

"It [vallenato] performs an essential role in the creation of a common regional identity," UNESCO said in its announcement upon listing the genre in its patrimony. According to published reports, it took Colombia three years from the time it nominated the musical genre to UNESCO as a candidate for the declaration.

UNESCO said that one of the reasons it decided to name vallenato to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is because the genre is threatened. Due to Colombia's armed conflict and drug trafficking the genre is endangered. UNESCO also cited a lessening of "parrandas vallenato," because of new musical sounds in the genre.

According to the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage aims to safeguard this fragile heritage, secure its viability and make sure full advantage is taken of its potential for sustainable development.

The organization states that a "living heritage" provides communities with a sense of identity and continuity, while promoting creativity and social well-being, contributing to the management of the natural and social environment and generating income. Much of what is called traditional or indigenous knowledge is, or can be, integrated into health care, education and management of the natural resources systems, UNESCO notes.

To be sure, vallenato is the very essence of Colombia. Vallenato is the sound of the coast. Most especially the city of Valledupar, which is arguably the epicenter of the genre.

Vallenato defines Colombia for Colombians. It is told that native son and Noble Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez once said that his epic work One Hundred Years of Solitude is a 400-page vallenato.