After years of being forgotten, the Suong Co folk song has been revived in the cultural and spiritual life of the Ngai ethnic group in Thai Nguyen - one of the smallest ethnic groups in Vietnam.
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| The Suong Co singing troupe of the Ngai ethnic people in Tam Thai residential area, Hoa Thuong town (Dong Hy district). |
Sharing with us, artisan Tham Dich Tho, from Tam Thai residential area, Hoa Thuong town (Dong Hy district), said: "Suong Co is a style of courtship singing of our Ngai ethnic group. When singing, men and women stand on opposite sides, similar to the Quan Ho folk songs of Bac Ninh . On the ancient melody, participants in the Suong Co performance can both sing and compose new lyrics, creating a lively, playful atmosphere with emphasis and rhythm. The performance can last from one night to the next without the lyrics repeating."
The Sường Cô song is poetic and deeply moving for many poets and writers. Moreover, it is considered the vibrant soul of the Ngái ethnic group. Despite numerous relocations and hardships, the Ngái people still sing the Sường Cô song to share their feelings with the majestic mountains and with their lovers in enchanting songs under the moonlight. Especially in October, when the rice in the fields has dried and is stored, unmarried young men and women cook new rice, wrap large rice balls in banana leaves brought from the fields over a fire, and hẹn nhau (arrange to go singing) together, sometimes staying away for a whole week.
Among the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam, the Ngai ethnic group comprises over 1,000 people, residing in 27 provinces and cities nationwide. Thai Nguyen province has the largest number, nearly 500 people. In Tam Thai residential area alone, there are nearly 60 households with approximately 240 inhabitants.
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| The Suong folk singing tradition is being passed down to the younger generation by the Ngai ethnic group. |
Mr. Tran A Quan, over 80 years old, leisurely recounted: "Along with other ethnic minorities, our ancestors contributed to reclaiming wild forests and deep mountains to establish villages. In the past, this Tam Thai area was very desolate, but now it has become a town with many ethnic groups living together harmoniously."
Because they live interspersed with other ethnic groups and have a smaller population, the Ngai people frequently use the common language (the Kinh language) for daily communication. Another reason for the decline of the Ngai language is the old customs and traditions: When someone dies, their soul moves on to another world , so descendants often bury with the deceased the funerary items they used during their lifetime.
Artisan Tham Dich Tho sighed: "It is because of this mindset that our people have lost many valuable books, including books on literature and art, folk songs, proverbs and sayings that teach business experience, moral principles, and the songs of Suong Co."
What is precious is that within the Ngai ethnic community of Thai Nguyen, there are still some people who know how to speak their ethnic language. Some elderly people habitually speak the Ngai language at home. Consequently, their children also have a rudimentary understanding. Especially, traditional Suong Co songs are becoming increasingly rare. Currently, the people only preserve and sing proficiently a few songs with original melodies, such as: "Looking at the Moon," "Offering Betel," "Twelve Zodiac Animals," "Lullaby," etc., songs performed by Ngai ethnic children at the 1st Ethnic Culture Festival in 2023, in Lai Chau province. The program was organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The Sường cô songs of the Ngái ethnic group are purely imbued with the "fragrance of the fields and the breeze of the countryside." The singing style is simple and unadorned, without any musical instruments, yet the lyrics of Sường cô soar, lingering throughout the singing gathering, and leaving in the listener's heart a romantic, nostalgic feeling, like a promise of a reunion that stirs the soul...
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