"Living treasure" of M'nong culture

This year, although he is nearly 70 years old, old man Y Par Dak Cat still diligently weaves traditional baskets every day. Bamboo sticks and rattan fibers in his hands become soft and obedient, transforming into durable baskets. Old man Y Par shared: “Each basket has its own function, its own story. Depending on the shape and size of the basket, the purpose and the user are also different. Water baskets are woven loosely, rice baskets are woven tightly, corn baskets are woven thickly. Small baskets for personal belongings or items are woven very carefully and elaborately with many skillfully decorated patterns... In addition, there are high-legged baskets that help reduce the weight because you don't have to bend or stoop. Now that I am old, I no longer have enough strength to work in the fields, so I just stay at home to weave baskets.”

Dung villagers learn about the traditional art of basket weaving from Mr. Y Par Dak Cat.

In the stilt house of the couple, there are always baskets of all sizes available because many people order them to be woven. Maintaining the weaving profession not only helps him earn more income but more importantly, it affirms the vitality and economic value of M'nong culture in the new society.

Not only weaving baskets, old man Y Par Dak Cat is also a famous gong artist, mastering complex ancient gong melodies, from gongs praying for rain, gongs celebrating new rice to gongs sending off the deceased... Old man Y Par has also painstakingly preserved two sets of precious gongs through many generations, including a set of gongs used to beat baskets and a set of hand-beat gongs.

Wishing for the younger generation to continue and pass on the culture of their ancestors, old Y Par regularly attends gong playing classes for the younger generation in the village and neighboring areas. “Gongs are the voice of our ancestors. Losing the sound of gongs means losing the soul of the M'nong people. Children must know how to play and love the sound of gongs for the culture to survive,” old Y Par confided.

Every time he teaches the young people to play the gong, he teaches not only the technique but also the semantics and culture hidden in each note. Thanks to him, the young people of Dung village gradually love and appreciate the traditional cultural values. Up to now, Dung village has established 2 gong teams (old and young); the number of people who know how to play the gong is up to about 60 people.

Mr. Y Par Dak Cat (far left) encourages villagers to use clean water from the centralized water supply project.

Besides, old Y Par is also a talented artist who plays the M'boắt trumpet (five-stringed trumpet). His trumpet sounds sometimes tell the story of love, sometimes the clear and melodious sound of a delicate and profound artist's soul.

It can be said that thanks to people who are passionate about traditional culture like Elder Y Par Dak Cat, M'nong culture is still living persistently, not only in the mind or in books but in the daily life of the community.

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