A centenarian artisan keeps the flame of traditional Ba Na culture alive.

In a small, simple house near the primeval forest in the Dak Pne valley, artisan A Gip, now 107 years old, in Kon Tuc village, Dak Rve commune, Quang Ngai province, quietly keeps the flame of the traditional culture of the Ba Na people alive.

Despite his advanced age and declining health, artisan A Gip still regularly keeps the 'fire' burning in his blacksmith's forge. (Photo: Ngoc Chi)

Craftsman A Gip was born in 1918 into a family with a traditional blacksmithing trade. He was taught and guided by his father from a young age. Blacksmithing has been a part of his life, like a destined connection. Therefore, despite his advanced age and declining health, he still regularly forges tools for his family, descendants, and villagers.

Artisan A Gip shared: "I'm old now, and my health is failing, so when I'm forging, I need help from my children and grandchildren because my hands aren't as strong as they were when I was young to use a hammer to strike iron. But I would feel sad if I didn't do blacksmithing, so I do it occasionally to preserve the craft and pass it on to my children and grandchildren."

Next to the simple wooden house stands the traditional blacksmith's forge of the Ba Na people, which has been associated with old man A Gip from his youth until now. From that forge, he has made thousands of knives, machetes, and hoes, which have been invaluable tools for the daily life and production of the Ba Na people in this area.

Mr. A Tèo, the village head of Kon Túc village, Đăk Rve commune, said: In Đăk Pủi hamlet, Kon Túc village, where the family of artisan A Gíp lives, there are 54 houses, of which 30 belong to his descendants. Currently, there are 6 people in the hamlet who own blacksmiths' workshops, all of whom learned the craft from the elderly A Gíp.

To become a blacksmith requires perseverance, creativity, and diligence to produce exquisite products that not only serve the production needs of the local people but also reflect the unique cultural characteristics of the Ba Na people.

Besides his expertise in blacksmithing, artisan A Gip also knows how to make drums, traditional musical instruments, and perform gong music. Now, although he is old and his voice is not as clear as before, he can still teach blacksmithing, drum making, and gong playing to the young people in the village.

A Thinh, the grandson of the elderly A Gip, recounted: "With the traditional drum-making craft, he only allowed those of legal age to participate. He often reminded us that to make a quality drum, one needs patience, dedication, and an understanding of the wood in the forest to select the right type of wood—one that is both lightweight and durable, and produces a powerful, resonant sound when struck."

Artisan A Gip hopes that future generations will always be proud of and cherish the unique traditional culture of their people. (Photo: Ngoc Chi)

Despite his advanced age, Elder A Gip is never absent from the village festivals. Elder A Gip's wish is that traditional crafts and unique cultural festivals will endure through time, so that future generations can be proud of and cherish the unique traditional culture of their people.

Mr. A Teo, village head of Kon Tuc village, Dak Rve commune, shared: "In the hearts of every villager in Kon Tuc, Elder A Gip is a symbol for younger generations to follow because of his simple lifestyle, talent in traditional crafts, and understanding of traditional culture. Thanks to Elder A Gip's contributions, Kon Tuc village has always preserved the traditional cultural values ​​of the Ba Na people."

Dak Rve commune has a population of nearly 9,000 people; of which, ethnic minorities account for more than 68%. With the development of society, steel tools and implements are mass-produced using modern production lines and technology, creating high-quality products with diverse designs and low prices, causing the traditional blacksmithing craft of the local people to gradually decline.

However, with the encouragement and support of the Party committee and local government, some artisans have persistently preserved and restored the traditional blacksmithing craft, including artisan A Gip.

Mr. Tran Van Hien, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dak Rve commune, Quang Ngai province, said: Artisan A Gip has made many contributions to preserving and promoting the blacksmithing craft and teaching gong playing in Dak Rve commune. In recent times, the commune has also developed a plan to preserve, conserve, and promote several traditional crafts associated with tourism development and increasing income for the people, including blacksmithing, basket weaving, and traditional brocade weaving.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nghe-nhan-hon-100-tuoi-giu-lua-van-hoa-truyen-thong-cua-nguoi-ba-na-2467410.html