The isukuti is a massive drum played by the Luhya during funerals, weddings, and harvest celebrations. It requires multiple drummers, dancers, and a community willing to keep the tradition alive. By the 1990s, fewer young people were learning it. Elders worried it would die with them. In 2008, UNESCO added isukuti to its list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding. The recognition brought funding, workshops, and renewed interest. The drum survived, but the question remains: can a living tradition be saved by being archived?