• Khmer Ethnic Culture Museum
  • Completed 18 houses for Khmer ethnic households to celebrate Tet
  • Recognizing the positive contributions of Khmer ethnic people in localities

Mr. Huu Van Kel was born in 1968, in a family with an artistic tradition, his grandfather and father were artists who participated in the Du Ke and Big Drum Theater performances locally. Since childhood, Mr. Kel often followed his father to performances at weddings, Tet, funerals and his passion for Big Drum Music gradually grew in him.

After his father passed away, facing the concern that the traditional music of the Khmer people in general and the Big Drum Music in particular would be lost, in 1986, Mr. Kel stood up to mobilize and gather members who were passionate and knowledgeable about this art form to teach and establish the Big Drum Music Team of Cay Kho Hamlet. The team currently has over 20 members, of which about 10 members are proficient in playing musical instruments.

Meritorious artist Huu Van Kel teaches the young generation how to play traditional Khmer musical instruments.

As a pioneer party member in preserving the nation's traditional culture, Mr. Huu Van Kel is even more proud when in 2022, the art of Khmer drum music in Ca Mau was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage . This further multiplies the love and determination to preserve and promote the value of this art form in Mr. Kel's community.

Mr. Huu Van Kel gathered members of the Big Drum Band to practice and participate in performances for local holidays and Tet and competitions inside and outside the province.

In addition, as a member of the Rach Giong Pagoda's Dharma Propagation Board since 1994, Mr. Kel has contributed to the pagoda and the locality by opening Khmer classes every summer. This meaningful work is important in preserving and promoting the Khmer ethnic cultural identity, while helping the younger generation understand and preserve the national language and writing.

Mr. Huu Van Kel is a dedicated teacher who teaches Khmer to ethnic minority children every summer.

After more than 39 years of practicing and teaching the art of Big Drum Music, Mr. Huu Van Kel has mastered many pieces and melodies in the field of community art such as: Rom vong, Saravan, Lamleo, Du ke stage music... In addition, Mr. Kel also cooperated with the Khmer Art Troupe of Ca Mau province, participating in performances, cultural and artistic exchanges on the occasion of the Cultural, Sports and Tourism Festivals of the Khmer people in the South in the provinces and cities, contributing to bringing many high awards to the province.

With his dedication and pioneering work in preserving and promoting the artistic value of the Khmer people's Big Drum Music, Mr. Huu Van Kel was honored to receive a certificate of merit from the Provincial People's Committee.

With his passion, enthusiasm, and tireless dedication, Mr. Huu Van Kel was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ca Mau province for his outstanding achievements in protecting and promoting the value of national intangible cultural heritage: Folk performing art "Khmer big drum music art" in 2022; along with many certificates of merit recognizing his active contributions to exchange activities, competitions, and cultural and artistic festivals of the Southern Khmer in and outside the province over the past nearly 40 years. The Captain of the Big Drum Music Team of Cay Kho hamlet is very worthy of the title "Meritorious Artist".

Loan Phuong

Source: https://baocamau.vn/nguoi-giu-hon-nghe-thuat-nhac-trong-lon-a120847.html