Preserving the Ha Nhi heritage in the upper Da River

The Ha Nhi people in Lai Chau are one of the ethnic communities with a distinctive traditional cultural identity. From costumes, festivals to epics or xoè dances, all have been passed down and preserved through many generations, becoming precious cultural heritages bearing the unique mark of the ethnic group living - in the upper reaches of the Da River.

The elderly pass on traditional cultural values ​​to the younger generation.

Besides the traditional festivals that have become trademarks and always attract tourists every year such as the traditional Tet, the Ga Ma Thu Festival, the epic poem “Xa Nha Ca” continues to affirm its unique cultural depth. This is a massive oral literary work with more than 3,500 verses, preserved for more than 300 years in a community that has no written language - a rare thing in the cultural treasure of ethnic minorities.

Mr. Khoang Mo Gia, in Ka Lang village (Thu Lum commune) said that since he was a child, he often heard the elders recite long poems by the fire during holidays, Tet, family reunions or when the village had festivals. In those songs, the elders told about the origin of the universe, all species, about the migration journey of the nation, sometimes telling stories about life and people.

"Sometimes listening to the epic poem makes me cry, but then I feel happy about reunion, happy about happiness, about a prosperous life," Mr. Khoang Mo Gia said emotionally.

Despite his old age, Mr. Khoang Mo Gia admitted that his voice cannot be as good as that of the ancients. He said that the inclusion of the Ha Nhi epic poem in the list of national intangible cultural heritage and its collection and recording is a “great fortune”, because if it were only passed down orally, its value would easily be lost when the young generation today go to work far away and rarely have the opportunity to listen to it.

Xoe Ha Nhi - a collective dance symbolizing solidarity and harmony in the community.

Another typical cultural form that bears the essence of the Ha Nhi people is the xoe vong dance - a collective dance symbolizing the solidarity and harmony in the community, becoming an indispensable cultural activity in festivals and important events of the village. This is an opportunity for everyone from old to young to gather together, share joy and strengthen the village relationship.

Artisan Ly Xu Hu (Lo Na village, Thu Lum commune) said that unlike Thai xoe, which involves holding hands to form a circle, Ha Nhi xoe still forms a circle, but men and women perform different movements. Women perform movements that are distilled from graceful, unified dances; men are strong with movements that simulate daily work.

Some Xoe sections have an artist standing in the middle of the circle to lead the drum and gong beats. The Ha Nhi people often dance Xoe during festivals, ceremonies, Tet, harvest prayers, weddings, housewarmings or on beautiful moonlit nights.

The form of Xoe is a combination of drum dance, field dance, weaving dance, waiting for rain dance, crop dance, moon-watching dance, and farewell dance... fully reflecting the richness of spiritual life.

Passing on traditional dances to the young Ha Nhi people.

For the Ha Nhi people, each xoè dance circle is like a story without words. The xoè dance is not only a dance of the hands or feet, but also the heartbeat of the mountain people, where every movement contains the emotions and aspirations of a peaceful life in the mountains and forests of the border. From the fields to the village yard, from normal days to festivals, the sound of the xoè drum still resounds, connecting the past with the present, connecting today's people with their ancestors' origins.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Giang, Secretary of the Thu Lum Commune Party Committee ( Lai Chau ), said that the local Party Committee and government, which are closest to the people, have a particularly important role in preserving and promoting national cultural identity.

According to Mr. Nguyen Truong Giang, Thu Lum commune will focus on preserving and promoting the value of heritage and traditional customs and festivals; especially maintaining the traditional Tet and festivals typical of the Ha Nhi people. Preservation not only preserves culture but also contributes to attracting tourists and promoting economic development.

Xoe Ha Nhi and "Xa Nha Ca" performance - two typical cultural forms recognized as national intangible cultural heritage.

Currently, Thu Lum commune in particular and the localities where Ha Nhi people live in general have been recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage for the art of Xoe Ha Nhi and the performance of “Xa Nha Ca”, two typical cultural forms with strong community identity. Folk artists, the outstanding children of the Ha Nhi ethnic group, have persistently taught and spread the quintessence of culture, helping traditional values ​​continue to be passed down through many generations.

Preserving and transmitting Ha Nhi cultural values ​​not only maintains the cultural source but also connects the community and is the pride of the Lai Chau border region.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/giu-hon-di-san-ha-nhi-noi-thuong-nguon-song-da-post926854.html