Connecting to preserve heritage

(GLO) - In the final days of 2025, people in the western communes of Gia Lai province were able to immerse themselves in the "Weekend Gong and Drum Performance - Enjoy and Experience" activities.

More than just an artistic performance, the program is also an opportunity for the community to meet, share, and rekindle love and pride for intangible cultural heritage.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thai Son, Director of the Culture - Information and Sports Center of Ia Pa commune (operating across communes), in 2024, the former Ia Pa district collaborated twice with the former Gia Lai Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize weekend gong performances in the district center, which were warmly received by the people.

Since then, after the reorganization of the commune-level administrative units has stabilized, the Ia Pa Commune Cultural, Sports and Information Center decided to bring the program directly to the villages.

In December 2025, the "Weekend Gong and Drum Performance - Enjoy and Experience" program was successfully held in the communes of Pờ Tó, Ia Tul, and Ia Pa.

The program not only provides an opportunity for artisans to introduce and promote the traditional culture of their ethnic group, but also helps a large number of people to "see and hear" the essence of the culture of the highlands, thereby fostering awareness of preserving and promoting traditional cultural heritage at the grassroots level.

On the night of December 27, 2025, the "Weekend Gong and Drum Performance - Enjoy and Experience" program, organized by the Ia Pa Commune Cultural, Sports and Information Center in coordination with the Ia Tul Commune People's Committee, attracted a large number of people from the commune and surrounding areas.

Sixty-five artisans from villages and hamlets in the commune proudly donned their traditional costumes, enthusiastically performing gong music, Xoang dance, playing traditional musical instruments, and singing folk songs. The program was further enhanced by a reenactment of a traditional ritual in the Jrai people's funeral ceremony.

A reenactment of a part of the Jrai people's funeral ritual was featured at the "Weekend Gong and Drum Performance - Enjoy and Experience" program in Ia Tul commune. Photo: Vu Chi

Barefoot feet move rhythmically to the xoang dance, strong hands play the resounding gongs and drums, as if recounting the long story of the village through generations.

A highlight of the program was the appearance of five members of the family of Ms. Rmah H'Thu (a Jrai woman from Plei Apa Ơi H'Trông village, Ia Tul commune) who participated in performing gong music, Xoang dance, and playing the t'rưng instrument.

This is vivid evidence of preserving and continuing the tradition of cultural heritage within each family.

"The program, organized locally, has given us more opportunities to perform, contributing to the spread of traditional culture to more people within and outside the commune," shared Ms. H'Thu.

Nay H'Duyen confidently performs on the stone xylophone. Photo: Vu Chi

The performance of traditional musical instruments titled "Village and Festival," featuring Nay H'Duyen (born in 2011, Plei Apa Ama Da village, Ia Tul commune) and her stone xylophone, left a deep impression on the audience. Despite it being her first time on stage, H'Duyen gave it her all. She poured her heart and soul into each beat and performed confidently and captivatingly.

H'Duyen shared: "Playing the stone xylophone is difficult enough, but playing it well is even harder. Thanks to my passion and persistent practice, after a year I can play 10 different pieces of music proficiently."

"My parents were very happy to hear that I was participating in this performance; my family and relatives in the village also came to watch, cheer, and congratulate me."

The "Weekend Gong and Drum Performance - Enjoy and Experience" program was marked by the participation of many generations, from elderly artisans to young people. Mr. Kpă Tư, an official from the Culture and Social Affairs Department (Ia Tul Commune People's Committee), commented: "Besides the experienced elderly artisans, the children also confidently performed. This continuity is what made the program a success."

The artisans in the commune hope to have the opportunity to perform gong music in Pleiku ward, thereby promoting and introducing the beauty of their ethnic group's traditional culture to a large number of people and tourists from inside and outside the province."

Having traveled nearly 10 km to watch the show, Mr. Kpă Hoang (Dlai Bầu village, Ia Tul commune) said: “There were many attractive performances; the audience also got to dance the xoang dance with the artists and drink traditional rice wine together.”

"We hope the program will be organized regularly to strengthen solidarity and enrich the spiritual lives of the local people."

The Jrai ethnic group in Ia Tul commune performed gong music at the "Weekend Gong Music - Enjoy and Experience" program. Photo: Vu Chi

The "Weekend Gong Music - Enjoy and Experience" program has contributed to bringing gong music back into community life, connecting generations, uniting villages, and fostering pride in traditional culture among ethnic minorities in the highlands.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thai Son, the success of the programs at the end of 2025 is the motivation for the Ia Pa Commune Cultural, Sports and Information Center to continue proposing to coordinate the organization of these events in other communes in the area in 2026, in order to maintain a regular space for gong performances and meet the aspirations of artisans and the people.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/noi-nhip-giu-gin-di-san-post576838.html