According to artisan Duong Lai, a respected elder of the Co ethnic group in Tra Lien, this dance often appears in celebrations such as the new rice harvest (xa pa nuu), housewarming (xa nhu nuu), buffalo feast (xa o pieu), harvest festival (xa ani), weddings, and other community events. And now, the Kdao dance has appeared at the "Co Ethnic Group Cultural Space - Living Heritage in the Great Forest," recently organized by Tra Lien commune, captivating viewers.
Touching the ancient traces of Co
Late in the afternoon, the sun still shone down on the grounds of Phuong Dong Secondary School (Tra Lien commune), where the exhibition "Co People's Cultural Space - Living Heritage Amidst the Great Forest" was taking place.
The weather was hot and humid, the courtyard stifling, yet crowds still filled the rows of exhibits displaying photographs and artifacts. They paused, gazing for quite a while at familiar objects from daily life, from gongs and jars to baskets and farming tools... Everything seemed to be recreating a rich cultural memory of the Co community.
The gongs and drums resound. Kđáo's footsteps move rhythmically, blending with the atmosphere of memories, as if leading viewers back to a bygone era of the Co community.
Unlike the tang tung and da da dances of the Co Tu people, the Kdao dance captivates with its softness and the expressive eyes of the performers. The setting becomes increasingly vibrant. With the encouragement of the community, strong Co men step out to perform the artistic "double gong duel."
Three people participate in a duel: the player of the male gong, the player of the female gong, and the drummer. During the performance, the two musicians stand facing each other in the courtyard. One plays the female gong with its deep, rich tone as a foundation, while the other holds the male gong with its higher pitch to respond. The gong sounds are sometimes slow and leisurely, sometimes rapid and intense, blending with the drum rhythm behind them to create a dramatic sonic dialogue.
According to artisan Duong Lai, gong duels are where artists showcase their talent, quick wit, and powerful, cascading rhythms. This form of performance art has been preserved and maintained, becoming an indispensable folk performance in the cultural and spiritual life of the Co people.
“For the Co people, gongs are not simply musical instruments; they are treasures, the voice of the mountains and forests. Through gong competitions, the young men subtly assert to the community that they can shoulder the great responsibilities of the village, while for the young women, they are seen as strong and talented young men,” shared artisan Duong Lai.
As the gong music faded, not far away, Co artisans gathered on the ground, enthusiastically demonstrating their traditional weaving craft. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Phuong (90 years old, residing in Lang Gach village) sat beside a mat, carefully selecting each bamboo strip and rattan strand to place into the weaving mold. Her hands bore the marks of time, but her movements remained skillful. Each weave followed the next rhythmically, a testament to her long-standing connection with the craft.
In Tra Lien, skilled weavers like Mrs. Phuong are becoming increasingly rare. Therefore, through the exhibition space, the artisans hope to contribute to introducing and spreading the unique cultural values of the Co people to locals and tourists. In particular, it provides an opportunity for young people to witness firsthand, learn, and continue the traditional craft that has long been associated with the local community.
Reviving the heritage region
At the age of 14, Pham Thi Tra My, a girl from the Co ethnic group, has spent many years participating in local cultural events. At this exhibition, Tra My and her friends performed the Kdao dance with great emotion.
When their work was finished, the Co girls descended to the exhibition area displaying artifacts arranged on either side of the main stage. Occasionally, they became "models" for tourists' cameras, then also acted as guides, enthusiastically introducing the cultural values of their ethnic group. The presence of the youth was like a continuation, reviving the cultural values that their ancestors had preserved for generations.
Mr. Nguyen Hong Vuong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tra Lien commune, said that the exhibition space showcasing cultural artifacts of the Co ethnic group is an opportunity for local people, especially the younger generation, to better understand the cultural roots of their community.
In the mountainous region southwest of Da Nang , the Co people are most concentrated in Tra Lien and some neighboring localities such as Thanh Binh, Duc Phu, Tra Giap, and Tam My. In Tra Lien alone, the Co people account for more than 49% of the population, living mainly in the villages of Tak Kot, Tak Ngui, Tak Nu, and Lang Gach.
From the resonant sound of gongs echoing through the mountains and forests to rituals associated with life cycles and seasons, many cultural values of the Co people are still preserved in their community life.
“For the Co people, the sound of gongs, the ceremonial pole, the dances, and traditional dishes are all linked to the memories of their villages. When these values are present in the exhibition space and directly performed by artisans, young people will experience their ethnic culture through vivid experiences, realizing that it is not something distant or outdated, but a source of pride present in their lives today,” Mr. Vuong said.
Contributing to the vibrancy of the exhibition space are over 70 documentary images and more than 20 artifacts, including gongs, jars, baskets, brocade fabrics, flutes, and agricultural tools, all collected from the community. Behind this space lies the culmination of many years of collecting and researching by the local government and museum staff.
Mr. Tran Van Duc, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Museum, recounted that nearly ten years ago, museum staff brought stories of history and culture to the Tra My region. The exhibition at that time showcased artifacts and documents, creating opportunities for local people to get closer to the heritage values of their homeland.
As time passed and administrative boundaries changed, the memories of that mountainous region rich in cultural traditions remained vivid in the hearts of those who work in heritage preservation.
“What makes this exhibition space special is the presence of village elders, artisans, and local people. They are the ones directly preserving, practicing, and transmitting traditional cultural values. Community participation brings authentic vitality to the exhibition space, allowing the heritage to be felt through connection and pride in our cultural roots,” Mr. Duc said.
The sound of the gongs gradually faded amidst the applause. I walked past the stalls displaying agricultural products and traditional Co cuisine , then stopped to look at Mrs. Phuong beside her unfinished bamboo and rattan crafts. I suddenly wondered, in 5 or 10 years, will such scenes still be seen in the daily lives of the Co people?
Source: https://baodanang.vn/danh-thuc-hon-di-san-van-hoa-nguoi-co-3339720.html
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