Multitalented artisans in T2 village

(GLO) - In the middle of T2 village (Kim Son commune, Gia Lai province), Mr. Dinh Van Rat (63 years old) has quietly preserved the craft of weaving and making traditional musical instruments for over 50 years.

In his small stilt house, his skillful hands meticulously work with each bamboo pole and each string of the musical instrument, contributing to preserving the soul of the nation amidst the vast forest.

Bamboo threads weaving memories

In the morning, the village of T2 was shrouded in a thin mist. From a small stilt house nestled beside the inter-village concrete road, the rhythmic sound of chiseling echoed, blending with the scent of fresh bamboo and rattan wafting on the breeze from the home of artisan Dinh Van Rat. After several attempts to arrange a meeting, I finally met him, having just returned from the forest, still sitting diligently by the fire, whittling bamboo and rattan strips and quickly drying them over the flickering flames.

Mr. Dinh Van Rat instructs the children in the village on traditional weaving techniques. Photo: D.D.

Taking a break to sip some herbal tea made from wild vối leaves, he recounted his childhood memories intertwined with the craft of basket weaving. Previously, Mr. Rất lived in O5 village (Vĩnh Sơn commune). Orphaned at the age of 10, he lived with his uncle and maternal uncle. After the rice harvest, he would follow the adults into the forest to cut bamboo and carefully observe the elders splitting the bamboo strips, drying them, and weaving them into complete baskets, trays, and winnowing baskets...

Seeing his eagerness to learn, the village elders and women in the hamlet diligently taught him even the smallest techniques. They patiently guided him on how to select straight bamboo stalks, how to split and dry them, and how to weave each segment, ensuring a strong cross-weave. These images were deeply imprinted in his mind, and when he grew up and settled in T2 village, those same hands still maintained the weaving rhythm of his childhood, continuing the traditional weaving craft of the Bana people.

According to Mr. Rất, the craft of basket weaving requires skill and meticulousness in every step, from preparing the materials, whittling, and splitting the strips to the techniques of weaving in sections, double weaves, crisscrosses, or creating diamond shapes. To make the patterns more vibrant, he also uses colored plastic threads or tree roots and sap to create colors, carefully arranging the threads. Each basket, tray, or carrying basket usually takes 3-4 days to complete.

"Now that I'm making these products myself, I feel like I'm carrying all my childhood memories in every stitch. Each product contains my effort and affection, and I always hope that the younger generation will continue the craft so that the weaving tradition doesn't fade away with the passage of time," Mr. Rat shared.

Today, despite the prevalence of plastic and industrial products, he remains dedicated to his craft. On average, he makes nearly 30 items per month. His woven products are popular among villagers in many hamlets and villages in Kim Son commune, who order them custom-made at prices ranging from 120,000 to 300,000 VND per item.

Ms. Dinh Thi Ngan (52 years old, residing in T1 village, Kim Son commune) shared: “Mr. Rat is very meticulous in his work; every detail is carefully attended to. I often buy baskets and trays from him for my children and grandchildren. Although handmade, the products are very durable, beautiful, exquisite, and retain their traditional characteristics.”

Hands that "create sound" in the vast forest.

Not only is Mr. Rất skilled in weaving, but he is also famous for his ability to craft and perform traditional musical instruments. In his stilt house, the bầu lute (preng), two-stringed zither (pră), lơng không zither, and plang zither are neatly hung, both rustic and exquisite.

Mr. Dinh Van Rat crafts and tunes the strings of a bầu (preng) instrument. Photo: D.D.

Mr. Rất explained that, since ancient times, the Bahnar people have used bamboo, rattan, and gourds to make musical instruments. These instruments therefore have a rustic, deep sound, and are often carried by villagers to their fields for both entertainment and to scare away birds and animals that might damage their crops.

In particular, the bầu lute is his favorite instrument because of its diverse sound, capable of playing everything from folk music to modern tunes. Crafting a bầu lute requires meticulous attention to detail: selecting mature bamboo stalks that fit comfortably in the hand, drying them for over a week, and then treating them over a fire to prevent insect infestation; after that, using an awl to carve holes for tuning pegs, and then inserting one or two hollowed-out dried gourds to allow the sound to carry further.

Currently, very few people make and play traditional musical instruments like Mr. Rất. Therefore, from 2022 to the present, during festivals and celebrations organized by Kim Sơn commune and the former Hoài Ân district, he regularly participates in performances and teaches the craft to young people in many villages whenever he has free time. His only wish is to preserve and pass on his skills to the younger generation, especially the children of the Bana ethnic group and anyone who loves traditional musical instruments.

Dinh Van Song (19 years old, from T6 village) shared: “Besides teaching me how to play the zither, Mr. Rat also guided me in making some simple musical instruments. Initially, I was a bit clumsy, but thanks to his careful guidance, I can now make the zither and two-stringed zither and play them skillfully with my friends in the village at festivals.”

It can be said that Mr. Rat's work is not simply about performing or crafting musical instruments, but also carries the value of preserving the culture and traditions of the Bahnar people. Thanks to these efforts, festivals and community activities in T2 village in particular and Kim Son commune in general are not only more vibrant, but also provide an opportunity for Bahnar culture to be revived and continued and preserved by the younger generation.

According to Mr. Le Quang Thang, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Kim Son commune, preserving the traditional weaving and musical instrument making crafts like Mr. Rat's is extremely important. He not only preserves traditional techniques but also acts as a "bridge" helping the younger generation access, learn, and develop these skills. The commune always creates favorable conditions for teaching and performing these crafts to preserve and promote the traditional crafts of the Bana people, ensuring that local culture does not fade away over time.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/nghe-nhan-da-tai-o-lang-t2-post572391.html