Brau ethnic culture is preserved through the children's gong team

The young gong troupe has had the honor of performing at major events in the province and district. Photo: Le Nguyen

The first days of the young gong team

Mr. Thao Tora - the officer in charge of culture and society of Bo Y commune (Ngoc Hoi district, Kon Tum province) said that, implementing the policy of preserving and promoting the unique cultural features of the Brau ethnic gong for the young generations of the locality, more than a year ago, he, the village elder and the head of Dak Me village mobilized the children in the village to participate in the Dak Me village's children's gong team. However, mobilizing and supporting the children to maintain regular classes was extremely difficult.

He had to go to each house, persuade each parent to help the children participate in the gong and xoang dance classes. Thanks to his perseverance and dedication and that of the village management board, in a short time, the Dak Me Village Gong Children's Team was established. Every Saturday and Sunday, 40 members of the Dak Me Village Gong Children's Team gather at the Dak Me Cultural House to practice.

Artisan A Muu (63 years old, Brau ethnic group, Dak Me village) is the one who directly teaches the Young Gong Team. Despite the hardship, artist A Muu still patiently instructs and corrects each child’s small movements and beats. At the same time, he regularly encourages the children to practice and explains so that the children in the team can better understand gong performance and xoang dance movements.

“In gong playing, the first important skill is to teach children how to hold the gong with a mallet, how to hold the gong so that the distance from the string to the gong is appropriate, and the hitting force must be just right to create high and low sounds. When children master the basic techniques, the movements of hitting the gong will create high and low sounds, notes with high precision” - artisan A Muu shared.

Perform at major provincial events

Up to now, at every festival, competition, or performance, the Dak Me Village Gong Children's Team has contributed many unique and skillful performances that are no less than those of adult gong teams.

Ha Anh Tuan (11 years old, Brau ethnic group, Dak Me village) - a member of the Dak Me village's Gong Children's Team excitedly said: "Currently, I can play songs like Mung lua moi (Merry rice), Lullaby (Lullaby for children) and often perform at the village festival."

Over the past year, the Young Gong Team has had the honor to perform at major events of the province and Ngoc Hoi district such as: Inauguration Ceremony of the Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia Friendship Cultural House; The 4th Congress of Ethnic Minorities of Ngoc Hoi district; Ngoc Hoi District Street Festival; Cultural - Sports Festival of Ethnic Groups of Ngoc Hoi district.

Ms. Vo Thi Thu Ha - Vice Chairman of Po Y commune (Ngoc Hoi district, Kon Tum province) affirmed that the Party Committee and People's Committee of the commune have proposed many policies to call on village elders and local artisans to participate in teaching children and encourage them to join the gong team to have the opportunity to teach. These will be positive factors contributing to preserving and promoting the cultural values ​​of the locality.

Source: https://laodong.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/van-hoa-nguoi-dan-toc-brau-duoc-giu-gin-thong-qua-doi-cong-chieng-nhi-1352234.ldo