Those who "keep the flame" of the culture of ethnic minorities alive.

Playing a connecting and community-mobilizing role in preserving ethnic cultural identity, ethnic minority artisans in villages and hamlets are both dedicated and enthusiastic in leading and teaching traditional performing arts values ​​to young people through classes and mass cultural movements, thereby contributing to improving the spiritual life of the community.

Born and raised in Lai Chau province, Meritorious Artist Sin Van Doi is an energetic and dedicated individual who devotes much time and effort to preserving the cultural identity and traditional beauty of the Mang ethnic group. Alongside teaching traditional folk performing arts to 30 students, including schoolchildren and villagers, Meritorious Artist Sin Van Doi also collaborates with the Department of Culture and Information of Nam Nhun district to compile a guide for teaching traditional folk performing arts of the Mang ethnic group. This document is invaluable, not only guiding students to learn basic songs and understand the meaning of each song and dance, but also equipping them with fundamental knowledge and techniques for breathing, walking, and hand and foot movements while singing, dancing, and playing the flute.

In addition, Meritorious Artist Sìn Văn Doi collaborates with other artisans to translate Mảng language song lyrics into standard Vietnamese, creating conditions for young people to quickly and easily access traditional culture, gradually raising awareness of preserving their cultural identity and beauty.

Similar to Meritorious Artist Sìn Văn Doi, with the desire to preserve the indigenous cultural value of Soọng Cô singing, which is in danger of fading in modern life, Meritorious Artist Trần Thị Nam (San Dìu ethnic group, Vĩnh Phúc province) said: "Soọng Cô singing is a unique and distinctive cultural feature of the San Dìu ethnic group, bringing joy and enthusiasm in labor and production, creating a sense of attachment to the homeland, village, and fellow San Dìu people. In 2018, the Soọng Cô folk song culture of the San Dìu ethnic group was recognized by the State as a national intangible cultural heritage."

Therefore, out of respect and pride for the value and identity of our ethnic culture, and to preserve and maintain its unique values, I established the Soọng Cô Singing Club in Trung Mầu village. With 60 members, the club holds regular activities. Members actively practice, frequently participate in performances and cultural exchanges with other localities, creating a vibrant and widespread Soọng Cô singing movement, while preserving the distinctive features of the local Sán Dìu culture, from traditional costumes, lullabies, storytelling, and courtship songs to dances."

Besides teaching, in 2014, Meritorious Artist Tran Thi Nam and the Soọng Cô folk singing club in Trung Mau village compiled and published 200 books on the culture of the San Diu ethnic group; in 2019, they published 120 books on the culture, language, and singing of Soọng Cô folk songs. From 2023 to the present, the club has expanded its activities to include classes teaching the language and singing of folk songs to young people of the San Diu ethnic group.

Considering the preservation and promotion of national cultural values ​​as crucial to building and developing an advanced Vietnamese culture rich in national identity, in recent years, Meritorious Artist Y Sim Ê Ban (of the Êđê ethnic group, Đắk Nông province) has directly composed many gong pieces and crafted traditional ethnic musical instruments; and participated in teaching four gong classes to the younger generation with 220 students. Through these efforts, he has contributed to the preservation and promotion of the national cultural values ​​of the Êđê people.

However, despite the active efforts of artisans in preserving and promoting the cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities, in the current trend of integration and development, the fine traditional cultural values ​​of these ethnic groups are still facing the risk of disappearing.

Meritorious Artist Y Sim Ê Ban (of the Ê Đê ethnic group, Đắk Nông province) stated that the low level of education and economic backwardness in the ethnic minority areas have created significant obstacles to the preservation and development of traditional culture. Furthermore, besides the lack of financial support policies, the collection, staging, exploitation, preservation, and promotion of ethnic cultural heritage have not received adequate attention and investment. The organization of traditional festivals also fails to meet the current needs of the people.

Therefore, Meritorious Artist Y Sim Ê Ban suggested that specific guidelines are needed soon on managing, preserving, and promoting cultural values ​​in traditional festivals, customs, practices, and cuisine of the Ê Đê people in particular and Vietnamese ethnic groups in general. Furthermore, it is necessary to strengthen the investigation, survey, and classification of traditional folk art forms to implement specific solutions for preservation, restoration, and promotion of their values.

Sharing this view, Meritorious Artist Sìn Văn Doi hopes that the Party and State will have more policies to support the restoration and reconstruction of traditional ethnic cultural features. He also calls for comprehensive investment in grassroots cultural institutions. In particular, he believes there should be more policies to provide incentives and encouragement, both spiritual and material, for village elders, community leaders, artisans, influential figures, and cultural workers in particularly difficult areas and areas inhabited by ethnic minorities. This will help to unleash the creative potential of each individual.

According to Meritorious Artist Tran Thi Nam, in the coming time, to preserve the beautiful aspects of the cultural life of the San Diu people, the State needs to pay more attention to helping the San Diu ethnic group in Vinh Phuc province in particular and the whole country in general to continue maintaining and developing their cultural identity. This includes issuing policies and mechanisms to support funding for ethnic minority communes to build centers for the preservation and development of San Diu ethnic culture. In particular, funding is needed to support clubs and artisans who teach Soong Co singing. In addition, attention should be paid to developing community tourism combined with cultural, spiritual, and ecological tourism.

Hanh Trang

Source: https://toquoc.vn/nhung-nguoi-giu-lua-van-hoa-cac-dan-toc-thieu-so-20241014145814724.htm