The sound of gongs in the mountains and forests resounds far and wide.

*The Co Tu community in Song Kon commune joins in the rhythm of drums and gongs, happily dancing the traditional tang tung - da da dance during the local cultural festival. Photo: ALANG NGUOC*

Preserving community values

After the merger, Song Kon became the first mountainous commune in the city to organize the Co Tu traditional cultural festival. The festival gathered thousands of artisans, village elders and amateur actors from all over the commune to "show off" their talents in performing the art of drums and gongs combined with the traditional dance of Tan Tung - Da Da, and traditional Ly singing and speaking...

Artisan Bhling Bloó (in Bho Hoong village) shared that the most memorable part of the festival, in addition to the scene recreating the living space of the highland community through performing arts, was the cultural stories "told" by Co Tu artisans through solo and ensemble drum and gong performances.

According to Mr. Bhling Bloó, the locality has a great advantage in maintaining the organization of the large-scale Co Tu traditional festival for many years. This is a necessary condition for the gong drum teams to continue expanding their activities, meeting the needs of both preserving cultural identity and creating unique tourism products.

*Co Tu artisans of Song Kon commune perform the art of drum and gong ensemble at the traditional village festival. Photo: ALANG NGUOC*

“In Bhơ Hòông village, we have maintained the community drum and gong team for many years with the main task of serving the community's ceremonial activities and the needs of tourists, while also creating a space to teach the young generation, helping to preserve traditional culture,” said Mr. Bhling Bloó.

Mr. Do Huu Tung, Chairman of Song Kon Commune People's Committee, said that the Co Tu people have a diverse and rich traditional cultural and religious life, clearly expressed in the art of performing gongs, dancing, brocade weaving, and folk songs...

“In these types of activities, the human factor plays a key and connecting role, especially experienced folk artisans, who also have a great influence in the journey of preserving the identity of the local community,” said Mr. Tung.

*The Ca Dong people in Tra Van commune preserve the gong culture in the community. Photo: ALANG NGUOC*

Need special policies

Tay Giang and Nam Tra My (old) were once considered localities with many efforts in gathering, establishing and maintaining drum and gong teams in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. Many classes, teaching drum and gong skills and traditional dances were held in the villages of Co Tu, Ca Dong, Xe Dang... at the foot of Truong Son Dong mountain range. Coming out of community classes, thousands of artisans and actors confidently performed in front of the public, through village festivals and important local events.

Mr. Poloong Plenh, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Society of Tay Giang commune, said that in 2024, from the allocated budget, Tay Giang district (old) will implement activities to support musical instrument sets including drums, gongs, cymbals and organize teaching classes for villages and 4 schools in the commune. Many Co Tu cultural artisans participate in the teaching classes so that young people can easily acquire knowledge and skills of their cultural roots, creating a stepping stone to maintain the drum and gong teams in 23 villages in the commune.

“After this training course, right at the beginning of the administrative unit merger in July 2025, Tay Giang commune boldly organized a festival to perform drums, gongs, tang tung - da da dances, ly-ly singing, and physical education - sports , cultural - artistic activities to celebrate the success of the first Party Congress of the commune, term 2025 - 2030. In addition to maintaining cultural - artistic, physical education - sports activities at the hamlet and residential area, we promote the vanguard role of the drum and gong teams in participating in performances for the community and tourists at important local festivals and events,” Mr. Plenh added.

The efforts of the government and the mountain communities in maintaining the gong drum teams at the grassroots level are commendable. However, many obstacles need to be removed by the city government, especially in terms of policy mechanisms for the specific tangible and intangible types that are being preserved in the mountain communities.

Artisan Ho Van Dinh (Ca Dong ethnic group, in Tra Doc commune) said that in addition to paying attention to supporting funding for organizing community festival activities, the city government needs to have policies to train artisans - those who are capable of making and performing traditional musical instruments and mountain performing arts. In addition, it is necessary to allocate more resources to support drum and gong teams/groups, ly-speaking - ly-singing, weaving, brocade weaving in the community and open more cultural classes for young people to help continue and pass on traditional identities...

Source: https://baodanang.vn/vang-xa-nhip-chieng-nui-rung-3309839.html