Ms. Dinh Thi Kieu Dung (left), Bo area, Bo town (Kim Boi) teaches Muong cultural values to the next generation.
Welcoming us at the house in the small alley, the first impression when meeting Mrs. Dung is her enthusiasm, youthfulness and passion. In the living room are certificates of merit, certificates of merit and awards in the field of culture. Mrs. Dung confided: When I grew up, I often self-studied and recorded the lyrics, sayings, and ancient gong songs of my grandparents. The time working in the cultural sector was also the years when I realized my dream of breathing life into the Muong culture to always shine. I often went to the villages, met the elders to collect ancient gong songs, ancient folk songs left by our ancestors. I always have a high sense of responsibility in studying and following the ideology, morality and style of Ho Chi Minh to contribute a small part in preserving and promoting the national cultural identity in the integration period when it tends to be lost.
Ms. Dung added that gongs are a part of the Muong soul, a "sacred treasure", the sound of Muong gongs is the sound of the Muong soul, the sound of mountains, forests, rivers and streams blending with the rhythm of life of the people. In gong performance, each gong has a different sound. A gong set usually has 12 gongs, which have long been considered to represent 12 months of the year, in order from gong Chot to gong 12. Gong Chot has the highest sound, gong 12 has the lowest sound (also known as gong kham). Each Muong region has different gong songs, there are also many songs with the same name but different in the way of playing and performing such as: Check bua, Di duong, Long 2, 3, 9... In many places, during holidays and Tet, there are often gong troupes that go to each family to wish them a happy new year, wishing them good luck in the new year. In preserving and promoting the intangible cultural values of Muong gongs, Ms. Dung has taught gong lessons to cultural staff and grassroots art nuclei.
While working in the district's cultural sector, Ms. Dung was one of the most energetic and enthusiastic cadres who excellently fulfilled the tasks of a movement cadre. With her passion, love for the profession, and respect for the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group, especially folk songs and Muong gongs, she taught 14 gong teams with more than 200 artisans in the district and neighboring areas. From 2004 to present, the classes opened by Ms. Dung have taught over 500 people how to play basic gongs and sing Muong folk songs. After retiring in 2016, she spent a lot of time opening classes to teach Muong gongs and voluntary folk songs to children aged 8-15. She determined that teaching culture to the younger generation not only helps preserve national identity, but also creates connections between generations.
During her teaching career, Ms. Dung selected promising talents to train and perform at local cultural exchanges and festivals. She also compiled two books titled "Muong folk songs" and "The art of playing gongs of the Muong Dong people" to preserve the cultural beauty of the Muong people for future generations.
Comrade Bui Van Dat, Vice Chairman of Bo Town People's Committee said: "Ms. Dinh Thi Kieu Dung is a shining example of actively propagating and mobilizing people in residential areas to well implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, and build a great national unity bloc. She is also one of the typical examples of studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style. We hope that she will continue to set a shining example in researching, collecting, preserving and conserving the cultural heritages of the Muong ethnic group. Thereby contributing to preserving and promoting the value of national identity, contributing to the local socio -economic development.
Duc Anh
Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/16/201781/Nguoi-giu-lua-van-hoa-Muong.htm
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