Unleashing cultural resources among ethnic minorities

Members of the M'nong Folk Arts and Culture Club, Bu Gia Map Commune, Dong Nai Province perform and participate in the 2025 National Residential Area Mass Arts Festival. Photo: Tran Thu Hien

Many good models and creative methods have been implemented, contributing to awakening the source of national culture, creating a widespread influence in the community and improving people's spiritual life.

Efforts to preserve traditional culture

In Binh Son hamlet, Long Thanh commune, the Cham language class taught by Mr. Do Ho Sen, the Imam of Binh Son Mosque, has been a bright spot in the work of preserving and promoting national cultural values for many years. The class is located inside the Cham mosque, and the entire curriculum was collected and edited by Mr. Do Ho Sen from many sources in localities with a large Cham population. In addition to teaching the language, the class also incorporates content about customs, costumes, cuisine and traditional musical instruments, helping the younger generation better understand their origins and be aware of preserving their national identity.

Not only teaching literacy, localities with a large number of ethnic minorities living in the province also actively maintain and teach gong art - the "soul" of community culture. The Gong Club of Binh Trung village, Phu Trung commune, Dong Nai province has 25 members, including many elderly and prestigious artisans such as: Dieu Phuong, Dieu Ble, Thi Bot, Dieu Minh... who regularly practice, perform and diligently teach to the younger generation.

According to Head of the Department of Culture and Society of Phu Trung Commune, Duong Bich Van, the gong performance art of the Stieng ethnic group in Phu Trung Commune is considered a typical heritage, maintained through generations. From 2021 to now, the commune has opened many cultural teaching classes, organized exchanges and gong performances, contributing to arousing national pride and spreading traditional cultural values in modern life.

Similarly, Binh Hoa hamlet, Xuan Phu commune has effectively maintained the model of the Choro Gong Team for many years. Not only regularly organizing practice and exchange activities during festivals and New Year, the team members also actively teach students who are children of the Choro people; participate in performances for a number of tourist groups who come to visit and experience local culture.

Village elder Hung Van Xung (residing in Binh Hoa hamlet, Xuan Phu commune) shared: “The sound of gongs and cymbals is not only the sound of the festival but also the soul of the Choro people. Every time those sounds resound, people feel like they have returned to their roots. Therefore, we always remind our descendants to cherish, preserve and continue the tradition, so that the gongs of the Choro people will not be lost.”

Promoting the effectiveness of the art club model

The model of Then singing and Tinh lute clubs of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups in communes and wards has recently become a bright spot in the activities of preserving the folk arts of ethnic minorities in Dong Nai. Notably, Dong Tam commune has effectively maintained 3 Then singing and Tinh lute clubs with the participation of more than 40 typical artisans; Thanh Son commune has maintained a Then singing and Tinh lute team in Hamlet 8 for more than 10 years; Ta Lai commune has expanded the Then singing and Tinh lute model in the Tay community, periodically meeting, practicing and performing at commune events, connecting to develop tourism.

Ms. Hoang Thi Huyen, Captain of the Then singing and Tinh lute team in Hamlet 8, Thanh Son Commune, said: “For many years now, then singing and Tinh lute are not only limited to the Tay and Nung communities, but have also attracted Kinh and Muong people to participate. The good news is that the young generation is very enthusiastic and proactive in learning. Thanks to that, the number of members of the hamlet’s Then singing and Tinh lute team is increasing and operating more effectively.”

Not only the art of Then singing and Tinh lute, many other traditional art clubs and groups such as: Choro, Ma, Stieng folk dance; Sli singing, Luon singing of the Nung people; Tam Pot singing of the Ma people... are also operating actively in the communes of Ta Lai, Song Ray, Bu Gia Map, Bom Bo... The clubs are not only places for cultural activities but also play a core role in local cultural, sports events, and mass art festivals, contributing to promoting the cultural image of Dong Nai ethnic minorities to friends inside and outside the province.

According to Vice Chairwoman of Phu Nghia Commune People's Committee Do Thi Thuy, the locality is maintaining and expanding many folk art clubs, attracting a large number of people to participate. Notable ones are the gong clubs in the villages of Thac Dai, Dak Son 2, Dak Khau, Phu Nghia... In particular, the commune focuses on the model of Schools associated with heritage, helping students learn and feel more deeply about the values of national culture.

Director of Dong Nai Cultural - Cinema Center Ton Thi Thanh Tinh said: Recently, the unit has paid special attention to staging art programs imbued with the "nuances" of national culture, especially performances recreating the space of gongs and folk songs of ethnic minorities. Many programs have participated in festivals and performances in the region and nationwide, achieving high rankings. This is not only an opportunity for people to exchange and share experiences, but also an opportunity to introduce the cultural beauty of Dong Nai to tourists, contributing to promoting and developing tourism in the province.

My Ny

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/van-hoa/202511/khoi-mach-nguon-van-hoa-trong-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-8b1009f/