Efforts made to bring Muong folk songs back to modern life

10/15/2021 - 4:44:14 PM

(HBO) - For more than two years, Muong Khoi folk singing club in Bai hamlet of An Nghia commune (Lac Son) has regularly organised singing during festivals, full-moon days or simply in meetings of its members.

A meeting of the Muong Khoi folk singing club in An Nghia commune (Lac Son).

Bui Van Chinh, head of the club, said that the club has 17 members. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the club was very active, as its members often met and sang together on normal days, along with local festivals. In addition, the club also organised exchanges with Muong folk singing clubs in the district and Thanh Hoa and Ninh Binh provinces. Due to the complicated developments of the pandemic, large gatherings are banned, so the club members meet in small groups to maintain practice. Besides the Muong Khoi folk singing club, Lac Son district also sees dozens of other clubs with hundreds of members.

Thanks to the Resolution of the fifth plenum of the eighth Party Central Committee (Session VIII) on preserving and promoting national cultural identities, Muong folk singing has received more and more attention, becoming a highlight in festivals, contests and mass art shows.

Many artisans who are dedicated to the ancient Muong folk songs have collected, recorded, and posted videos on Youtube channel. The most typical is artisan Bui Huy Vong in Huong Nhuong commune.

Artisan Vong said that each type of performance has its own strengths. Today, going around the district’s villages, hamlets, and fields, people can hear Muong folk singing on TVs, smart phones and radios. Some families have invited artisans to sing at weddings, tomb-sweeping festival, and housewarming parties. This proves that the love for Muong folk singing is still very deep among local people. Muong people-living areas in Thanh Hoa province are also excited when they invite Lac Son district’s Muong folk singing clubs to exchange.

With regular activities, Muong folk singing clubs are gradually bringing folk songs back to people's daily lives. These models have also made an important contribution to the preservation and development of folk songs, folk dances and the unique cultural identity of the Muong ethnic community in Hoa Binh province.

3.6 Billion VND Allocated to Preserve Traditional Cultural Values of Ethnic Minorities in Lạc Sơn District

As part of Project 6 under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2024, Lạc Sơn District, Hoa Binh province focuses on diverse and practical activities to promote the project's goal: "Preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development."

Mobilizing the power to preserve and promote the cultural heritage values

After 3 years of implementing Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated October 11, 2021 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Hoa Binh province's ethnic groups in the period of 2021 – 2025 with the orientation to 2030 (NQ04), it has mobilized the participation of the entire political system, the people from all walks of life and there have been positive changes. So far, out of the 10 targets of NQ04, 3 targets have been met and exceeded the plan set for 2025. Typically, 70% of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of ethnic groups in the province is on the list of the national ICH items and they have been protected and restored, exceeding 20% of the proposed Resolution.