In their own way, these all-female gong ensembles not only challenge the stereotype that "playing gongs is a man's job," but they also become key figures in preserving the cultural space of gong music.
1. Late in the afternoon in Leng village (To Tung commune), the sound of gongs and drums echoed from the house of Mr. Dinh Chram (65 years old). 45 members of the Women's Gong Club gathered to practice a song celebrating the new rice harvest. Some played the gongs, others adjusted the rhythm; everyone was engrossed, seemingly forgetting the time.
During a break, Mr. Chram recounted: The club was established in 2023 by the People's Committee of Kbang district (formerly) based on the village's women's gong ensemble, which had been formed a decade earlier. This was the first women's gong ensemble in Gia Lai province (formerly), and it had participated in many major festivals and important cultural events of the district and province.
"Now, the women can play many gong pieces such as: Celebrating the New Rice Harvest, Celebrating Victory, Celebrating the Party and the Spring Festival, Remembering Uncle Ho's Gratitude… But whenever a new member joins, the club trains them again until they are proficient," Mr. Chram said.
At 61, Ms. Dinh Thi Lenh still regularly attends the gong-playing practice sessions of the club. She smiles gently and says, "Playing gongs is already difficult for men, but it's even harder for women. Your hands need to be very strong, and the rhythm must be very steady. As I get older, I have to practice even more. If I miss a practice session, I miss it."
Cherishing each gong like a treasure, Ms. Dinh Thi Khop - the club's chairperson - said: "The team has participated in performances at many village festivals, performed for tourists, participated in cultural exchange programs of the former Kbang district, and the Central Highlands Gong Culture Festival in 2018…
Since the establishment of the club, women from Leng village have had the opportunity to appear in larger programs such as "Weekend Gong Performance - Enjoy and Experience" organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, or the Central Highlands Gong Festival 2023…
"We are proud that the women's gong playing has its own unique character. The more invitations we receive to perform, the more motivated we become to practice," Ms. Khop confided.
2. A few slopes away from Leng village, Kgiang village (To Tung commune) resonates every afternoon with the majestic rhythms of the all-female gong ensemble. The locals liken the sound of their gongs to the sound of a waterfall cascading down a deep stream – persistent, powerful, yet also very gentle.
After nearly five years of operation, the women's gong ensemble of Kgiang village has gathered 30 members, mostly aged between 40 and nearly 60. Under the dedicated guidance of two artisans, Dinh Bi (70 years old) and Dinh Tuynh (65 years old), they have all become skilled gong players, contributing to the revitalization of the village's cultural life.
Ms. Dinh Thi Hien, who directly encouraged women to join the all-female gong ensemble, recounted: "It was very difficult at first. The women were busy with farming and housework. I had to persuade three younger sisters and my daughter, Dinh Thi Hai, to join the practice to set an example. Fortunately, the villagers supported us, lending us gongs to practice, and the older artisans were willing to mentor each person."
In 2024, the team received a set of gongs from the province, making practice more convenient. Besides performing at local cultural events, the team is also regularly invited to perform for tourists at the A Ngui homestay (To Tung commune).
"This not only provides extra income for us women but also gives us the opportunity to promote gong culture to tourists. We women are very happy!" - said Mrs. Hien.
Mr. Dinh Van Nghien, Secretary of the Party Branch of Kgiang village, said: "The village currently has three gong ensembles: men's, women's, and children's. The women's ensemble is very active, inspiring the younger generation in the village. The children's ensemble is the clearest evidence of the spread of activities to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of gong music."
3. For a long time, Bahnar women typically handled the traditional gong playing, while the larger gong pieces were played by men. However, in Suoi Da village (Vinh Son commune), women have stepped into "the position of men," bringing with them grace and subtlety to create new nuances for the gong sound.
As the sun set behind the mountains, the communal house courtyard of Suoi Da village resounded with the sound of gongs. Twenty-five Bahnar women, dressed in traditional brocade skirts, stood in a semicircle, diligently practicing a gong performance celebrating victory. Elderly and children gathered around, cheering them on, creating a familiar scene of a mountain village.
The Suoi Da Village Women's Gong Club was established in June 2022, chaired by Ms. Dinh Thi Thoi, the head of the village's Women's Association. Ms. Dinh Thi Danh (63 years old, the oldest member of the team) shared: "I've known how to play the gong since I was 20. Now that I'm old, I still try to teach the younger generation so that there will be successors."
After more than 40 years of playing the gong, her hands are still steady, the rhythm is still precise, and the sound of the gong still resonates as strongly as it did on the first day. She is a great source of inspiration for the club members.
A set of gongs consists of 12 gongs and 1 drum, each with a different timbre. To play in harmony, the team must practice weekly. The drummer, the player of the large gong, the player of the small gong, the drummer… all must blend together to form a unified whole.
Many families have two generations participating in the women's gong club. At the same time, the village women's association actively guides children to form a successor generation.
Ms. Dinh Thi Xuot, President of the Women's Union of Vinh Son commune, said: "The entire commune has 12 villages, and both Suoi Da and K6 villages have women's gong clubs. Since the establishment of the clubs, women have had more joy, their spirits have been uplifted, and the Union's activities have become more convenient and attractive."
The women's gong playing in Vinh Son is a vivid testament to the courage and innovation of Bahnar women, who dare to step outside of old boundaries to preserve their heritage in their own way.
Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/suc-song-moi-tu-cac-doi-cong-chieng-nu-post579929.html
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