Macron Seeks UNESCO Recognition for French House Music
Wafricnews - June 22, 2025
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for the global recognition of French house music—famously known as “French Touch”—as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, spotlighting a genre that has deeply influenced global soundscapes for decades.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for the global recognition of French house music—famously known as “French Touch”—as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, spotlighting a genre that has deeply influenced global soundscapes for decades.
Speaking during an interview on France’s electronic music radio station FG during its “Happy Hour” segment, Macron proudly declared his intent to elevate French electro to the same cultural standing as Germany’s celebrated Berlin techno scene, which earned a spot on Germany’s national heritage list in 2024.
“I love Germany. You all know how European I am. But we don't need lessons—we are the inventors of electro. We have that French Touch,” Macron said with patriotic flair.
The announcement coincided with France’s annual Fête de la Musique, a nationwide celebration of music that turns the entire country into an open-air concert every summer solstice. The timing could not have been more fitting, as Macron’s move aims to cement the legacy of pioneers like Daft Punk, David Guetta, Bob Sinclar, and Cassius on the global cultural register.
Originating in the 1990s, French house became known for its signature blend of funk, disco, and house influences—characterized by lush samples, filtered grooves, and throwback flair. Tracks like “Music Sounds Better With You” by Stardust and Phoenix’s “Heatwave” are anthems that defined not just an era, but a movement.
The genre even claimed center stage during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, when artists like Phoenix, Kavinsky, and Air performed at the widely praised closing ceremony.
Macron’s endorsement of the genre is personal. His wife, Brigitte Macron, 72, is known to be a fan of electronic music. Artist Kavinsky once revealed that he was invited to perform at the Élysée Palace for the 2018 Music Day festivities at her request.
“This lovely woman knows all my songs and listens to me every time she flies,” Kavinsky shared in a 2022 interview. “Emmanuel prefers classical—Schubert and Wagner—but he was very nice.”
If successful, French house could soon join the ranks of other nationally treasured French traditions recognised by UNESCO, such as the baguette, Parisian zinc roofing skills, Pyrenean bear festivals, and French falconry.
UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list is reserved for cultural practices, expressions, knowledge, and traditions that shape a people’s identity and deserve to be preserved for future generations.
For Macron, it seems house music isn’t just something to dance to—it’s a cultural export worth defending.
By Wafricnews Desk.
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