Preserving and promoting the values ​​of folk songs and dances of ethnic minorities - Cao Bang Electronic Newspaper

Like other intangible cultural forms, folk songs and dances of ethnic minorities in the province are considered cultural resources, a part of the spiritual foundation of society. Therefore, preserving and promoting the values ​​of folk songs and dances are of interest to all levels and sectors, contributing to building a healthy cultural environment and promoting national cultural identity.

Preserving folk songs and dances of ethnic minorities

Dong Khe is one of the communes with many ethnic minorities living with unique and distinctive cultural features that are preserved and promoted by the people. In particular, sli singing, sluong singing, then singing, and tinh playing are some of the unique folk melodies of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups. In the face of international integration and the risk of losing national cultural identity, the commune has directed villages and hamlets to establish folk song and dance clubs to preserve the unique cultural features of ethnic minorities.

The folk song and dance club activities are very lively. Then singing, Tinh lute and Luon sluong are some of the melodies that club members choose to practice the most. In addition to collecting ancient folk songs, club members also compose diverse Then songs and dances reflecting various aspects of rich daily life.

Ms. Ha Thi Mai, a member of Duc Xuan Folk Song Club, Dong Khe Commune, shared: When establishing and launching the Folk Song Club, the members of the Club and I made efforts to promote the preservation of the national cultural identity among the people in the commune. In particular, folk songs and folk dances are considered spiritual food closely associated with the daily life of the people. In order to preserve the good traditional culture of the nation, the Club regularly promotes and mobilizes young people and students to join the Club to be taught folk songs to preserve the national identity.

The cultural and artistic movement among the masses has been constantly developing. Thanks to that, the whole province now has more than 800 mass art troupes, operating regularly and effectively. Developing 10 branches of the provincial folk song preservation association with 2,200 members... Ms. Chu Thi Thao, Ca Meng hamlet, Coc Pang commune said: The hamlet's art troupe regularly practices folk songs, dances (bronze drum dance, tea offering dance, new rice celebration dance)... to participate in cultural and artistic activities in the village, hamlet, and participate in performances at the Lo Lo ethnic cultural festival. These are folk songs and dances imbued with the identity of the Lo Lo ethnic group, so the team members are always conscious of practicing and teaching each generation each movement, facial expression, dance posture... thanks to that, the traditional cultural value of each folk song, dance, and music is preserved, promoted and becomes a beauty in local holidays, festivals, etc.

Localities maintain and establish folk song and dance clubs.

With the spirit of arousing, preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural identities of ethnic groups, in recent years, all levels and sectors have had many different solutions in preserving and promoting the values ​​of folk songs, folk dances and folk music of ethnic minorities in the province. The Provincial Party Committee issued Directive No. 36-CT/TU, dated April 1, 2020 on preserving and promoting folk songs of ethnic groups in the province; The Provincial People's Committee issued documents on the implementation of the Project "Preserving and promoting the values ​​of folk songs, folk dances and folk music of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development in the period of 2022 - 2030". From there, Party committees at all levels, authorities, departments, sectors and localities issued documents directing, implementing and specifying programs and plans suitable to the practical situation of localities and units in the province.

Along with propaganda, the province has conducted an inventory of intangible cultural heritage in the province; after the inventory, it is currently preserving over 2,000 heritages. Through the inventory, a selection was made to submit to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to include in the list of national intangible cultural heritages. Up to now, the whole province has 7 national intangible cultural heritages; in particular, the heritage "Then practice of the Tay, Nung, Thai people in Vietnam", including the Then ritual of the Tay people in Cao Bang, was recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The whole province has recognized 1 people's artisan, 23 excellent artisans, 1 people's artist and 5 excellent artists. Conduct research, fieldwork, field investigations, inventory the current status of folk songs, folk dances, and folk music of ethnic minorities in the province, from which to select the folk performance art of Luon Coi of the Tay people in Yen Tho, Nam Quang, and Quang Lam communes to propose and be recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Turn heritage into assets

As one of the community tourism destinations that attracts a large number of tourists, especially international tourists, to visit and experience, Khuoi Khon Hamlet Community Tourism Site, Hung Dao Commune has in recent years promoted the indigenous cultural values ​​in promoting socio -economic development. Mr. Chi Van Tong, owner of Khuoi Khon Hamlet homestay, said: The Lo Lo ethnic group still retains the cultural features of their ethnic group, so in 2020, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism approved the implementation of the Project to preserve the traditional culture of the Lo Lo ethnic group associated with the development of Khuoi Khon Hamlet Community Tourism Site, with a total investment of 5 billion VND. The hamlet built a community house for Khuoi Khon Hamlet; preserved the traditional house of the Lo Lo ethnic group; established a mass art troupe, and developed an art program, including the traditional bronze drum performance of the Lo Lo people; Wedding rituals, forest god worshiping ceremonies (praying for rain) of the Lo Lo people have been researched, restored, and preserved; at the community house of the hamlet, Lo Lo bronze drums are displayed; people are trained, coached on knowledge and experience in sustainable development of community tourism; the quality of service of homestays has been improved... Thereby, the number of tourists coming to experience increases every year. Currently, the hamlet has 5 households running homestays, every day there are foreign guests coming to visit, stay at the homestays. There are families earning over 40 million VND/year from running homestays.

What attracts tourists is the distinct, unique and different "colors" of each region, each ethnic group... realizing that, currently, at community tourism sites in the province, they have established their own mass art troupes, creating art performances of folk songs and unique folk dances to serve tourists. Mr. Ngo Tuan Anh from Da Nang shared: When I visited and traveled to Khuoi Ky stone village, what attracted me besides the beautiful scenery, the unique stone stilt houses were the strange and attractive dishes and the enjoyment of Then melodies and Tinh lutes performed by the local people.

Thanks to promoting the value of folk songs and dances in tourism development, the number of tourists to Cao Bang has increased over the years. In the first 6 months of the year alone, the number of tourists is estimated at 1,520,063, an increase of 47.7% over the same period, of which international tourists increased by 176.8% over the same period, domestic tourists increased by 44.3% over the same period.

With the goal of "turning heritage into assets", in the coming time, the province will continue to survey, inventory and make a list of intangible cultural heritage types of folk songs, folk dances and traditional music of ethnic minorities; develop and promulgate mechanisms and policies for artisans, organizers of practice, transmission, preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage values ​​of ethnic minorities; organize the restoration and promotion of the values ​​of folk songs, folk dances and music of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development; build tours and routes associated with the activities of art troupes at community tourism sites, contributing to improving the material and spiritual life of the people, building sustainable tourism with strong identity.

Minh Hoa

Source: https://baocaobang.vn/bao-ton-va-phat-huy-gia-tri-dan-ca-dan-vu-dan-toc-thieu-so-3178510.html