(HBO) – The People’s Committee of Cao Phong district on August 18 organised a workshop on Mo Muong, unique cultural heritage of the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province. The event brought together representatives from the People’s Committee and 50 artisans from three Mo Muong clubs in Cao Phong, Tan Lac, and Lac Son districts.
Bui Van Dong, a Mo practitioner in Thach Yen commune, Cao Phong district, performs Mo Muong at the workshop.
Mo Muong is a job and also a performance practiced at funerals, religious
festivals, and life cycle rituals by the Muong ethnic group. The art consists
of Mo prayers and performances, by Mo practitioners, or Mo artisans.
Cao Phong is home to 37 Mo artisans, and eight learners and assistants, all of
them members the Mo Muong Thang Club.
Currently, most of the Mo artisans are old, thus hindering their efforts in
teaching and preserving the art. Therefore, the workshop was intended to seek ways to preserve and promote
intangible cultural heritage values of Mo Muong in the new situation.
Participants also looked into how to raise the sense of responsibility among
the artisans for the research, popularisation and practice of Mo Muong.
They shared the view that Mo Muong Thanh in particular and Mo clubs in general
should offer regular training to young Mo practitioners, and organise
activities encouraging people to join preservation efforts. They also proposed
all-level authorities issue more specific policies in support of the
preservation and promotion of the unique cultural heritage.
If Tan Lac is considered the core of the cradle of Muong culture in Hoa Binh, Phong Phu commune is the cultural centre of Muong culture in Tan Lac district. Luy Ai hamlet in Phong Phu commune is where customs and traditions of Muong Bi are preserved. Luy Ai hamlet was chosen to build a space to preserve Muong ethnic culture. The district is seeking support from the province and coordinating with relevant agencies to devise a plan on preservation of Muong cultural spaces associated with developing tourism products and improving the lives of local residents.
Nguyen Manh Tuan, a Muong ethnic man in Ba Hang Doi town, Lac Thuy district, is known as a young, dedicated, and outstanding artisan who has made significant contributions in collecting, restoring, and preserving national cultural values.
The Government Office with Document No. 2082/VPCP-KGVX, dated March 29, 2024, sent out the opinion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha regarding the submission of the "Mo Muong" and "Cheo art" dossiers to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
In the evening of March 28th, in Hoa Binh, the Department of Grassroots Culture (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) coordinated with the provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the city to organize a mobile propaganda contest to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7th, 1954 - May 7th, 2024) with the theme "Returning to Dien Bien”. There ứa the attendance of Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; the representatives of the leaders from a number of departments, branches and numerous veterans and Hoa Binh people.
In responding to the movement of "All people stay united to build cultural lifestyle”, over the years, Kim Boi district has conducted many practical and effective activities to promote solidarity and mutual support among the local community in sustainable poverty reduction and building cultural lifestyle and a healthy cultural environment, and maintaining national cultural identity.
