(HBO) – Thirty-five members of the Mo Muong Thang club in Cao Phong district, Hoa Binh province, gathered in early November to exchange experience with other Mo Muong artisans from Tan Lac and Lac Son districts.
Muong artisans share experience at an exchange
programme of Mo Muong clubs, organised by the Mo Muong Thang club.
Bui Thanh Xuan, 31, from Doi hamlet in Tay Phong
commune is the youngest club member, yet he has worked as a "thay mo” (shaman)
for seven years. Xuan said he has learned from good experience of prestigious
shamans in the club.
Although Mo Muong Thang has been operational for
only more than one year, it has been the "common house” of shamans and Mo Muong
lovers in Cao Phong.
The club has overcome difficulties caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic to launch activities aiming to preserve and promote cultural
values of Mo Muong, a unique cultural heritage of the Muong ethnic group.
Apart from its regular gatherings, the club has
coordinated with the district’s culture office and culture and sports centre in
the communication work, and organised Mo Muong shows and exchange programmes
with other Mo Muong clubs in the district.
Artisan Bui Ngoc Thuan, head of the club, said
there are 37 shamans in Cao Phong, adding that that the formation of Mo Muong
Thang is of significance as it creates a "common house” for Mo Muong lovers,
bringing people closer and contributing to preserving and upholding special
cultural values of Mo Muong.
According to the artisan, like other Muong
people in Hoa Binh, those in Muong Thang are proud of the Mo Muong cultural
heritage and treasure it. Mo Muong has plays an important position in the
spiritual life of Muong people in Hoa Binh.
It is not easy to establish a club of Mo Muong
lovers and even more difficult to operate it effectively and to spread the love
among the community, Thuan continued.
He said all of the 35 club members are shamans,
of whom eight have been selected as candidates for the "outstanding artisan”
title./.
