Echoes of Northern Cheo tunes in the Central Highlands border region

Amidst the modern pace of life, in the vast, sunny and windy area of ​​the border district of Ea Sup, the folk songs of the rice fields still echo. Melodies that seem to only exist in the Northern Delta are now sung passionately by the Ea Bung Commune Cheo Singing Club, as a living proof of the love for art that has no geographical limits.

Ea Bung commune has more than 1,000 households with over 4,000 people, mainly people from Thai Binh and Quang Nam provinces who came to build a new economy . In the new land, people work hard and produce, although far from home, no one can forget the soulful cheo melodies.

Ea Bung commune Cheo singing club performed at the cultural exchange program to celebrate the founding day of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly .

As a native of the rice fields of Thai Binh who came to Dak Lak in late 1986, Ms. Tuong Thi Binh (born in 1953, Vice President of the Cheo singing club of Ea Bung commune) shared that the club was established in 2002, as a way for the Thai Binh community in the new economic zone to ease their homesickness and connect with each other through ancient Cheo melodies. There is no theater, no professional stage, just a yard, under the porch, on a small mat..., but there, everyone indulges in their passions and is absorbed in art.

“The special thing about Cheo art is not just simple singing but the harmonious combination of singing, dancing, acting and music to create rich performances that touch people’s hearts. At that time, there was only a flute, a erhu and a drum, but the members of the club traveled all over the district to exchange and perform. Not to mention, in the beginning, economic conditions were poor, roads were difficult to travel, and when performing, everyone sat on a tractor, going back and forth at night, but the joy was that people responded and cheered enthusiastically,” Ms. Binh confided.

"The Ea Bung commune Cheo singing club has actively contributed to preserving and promoting the value of traditional Cheo art, contributing to improving the cultural and spiritual life of the people" - Ms. Tran Thi Huyen , Vice Chairman of the Ea Bung commune People's Committee.

Having loved Cheo and learned to sing Cheo since she was 17-18 years old, Mrs. Bui Thi Thu (born in 1967) proudly talks about the "Cheo lineage" that is deeply ingrained in her family's blood: "My family is Cheo land! Cheo grandfather, Cheo grandfather, Cheo father, Cheo brother, and I also Cheo. Coming to Dak Lak, joining the club, I can satisfy my passion and connect with my fellow countrymen in a new land."

However, what worries Ms. Thu and the club members is that with the pace of modern life, today's youth have little passion for traditional arts. The difficulty lies not only in passing on the Cheo singing techniques but also in how to "sow" the love for traditional arts into a generation born in the technology age.

A meeting of the Ea Bung commune Cheo singing club.

Although it was established in 2002, due to many reasons, the club was interrupted and its activities were intermittent. It was not until 2021 that the club maintained regular activities until now. Up to now, the club has 13 members, all of whom are originally from Thai Binh, in which the oldest member is 73 years old.

Although life is busy with the fields, but with passion, every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, the members gather together, immerse themselves in the passionate Cheo melodies, creating a unique cultural activity of the Northern people on the plateau.

Not only participating in activities within the club, members also actively participate in cultural activities of the commune and district at important local events and art performances. The performances are always carefully prepared from lyrics, props, to costumes. Besides practicing ancient Cheo melodies, the club also composes Cheo songs praising the homeland and the land where they live.

Like the lyrics of the song “Ea Sup, my hometown” composed in the early days of the club’s establishment: “Just arrived for the first time, Ea Bung, Ea Sup, my hometown/ Just arrived for the first time, but so familiar, so loving/ Like the voice of a mother waiting day and night for her child to come back to build and develop this place…”.

In the midst of the vast forest, the homeland melodies of the Thai Binh people, imbued with human love, still resound. And in those soulful melodies, there is a dream of a tomorrow when Cheo will not only live in memories, but will spread in the hearts of today's and tomorrow's youth.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-du-lich-van-hoc-nghe-thuat/202506/ngan-vong-dieu-cheo-dat-bac-giua-vung-bien-tay-nguyen-7dc167a/