Mo Muong on journey to becoming intangible cultural heritage of humanity: Part 3

Mo Muong on journey to becoming intangible cultural heritage of humanity: Part 3 - Motivation for Mo Muong to "take off"

5/30/2024 - 2:31:58 PM

In an effort to preserve and promote the unique cultural values of Mo Muong, the northern province of Hoa Binh is charting a course to compile a scientific dossier seeking UNESCO recognition for Mo Muong as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Artisan Bui Van Rum from Rom Co hamlet, Thuong Coc commune, Lac Son district, proudly joins the building of the national dossier for Mo Muong.

Despite effective measures by the province, Mo Muong cultural practices face numerous challenges as globalisation, especially its cultural aspects, has introduced strong foreign influences. This has resulted in the simplification of Mo songs used in funerals. Over the time, the number of Mo Muong artisans is dwindling, with many aging. According to the latest statistics from the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, there are 212 Mo Muong artisans in the locality, almost all of them old. Without timely training of a new generation, the situation will worsen.

To address these challenges and achieve UNESCO recognition, the Hoa Binh People's Committee has collaborated with the provinces of Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Son La, Thanh Hoa, and Dak Lak, and Hanoi city. This collaboration aims to develop a comprehensive national dossier for Mo Muong's inclusion in the UNESCO list.

Concrete steps have already been taken. A steering committee and a dedicated dossier preparation committee have been established in Hoa Binh. The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism partnered with the Vietnam National Academy of Music for a local seminar on Mo Muong. Additionally, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the provincial committee, organised domestic seminars and international conferences that attracted leading scholars, literature and art experts, and UNESCO intangible cultural heritage specialists.

The Institute of Music played a crucial role by collecting, audio recording, and filming Mo Muong cultural practices. They are also responsible for crafting scientific records and finalising documentary films on this unique heritage.

On March 29, the Government Office issued a document reflecting the Deputy Prime Minister's endorsement for submitting the "Mo Muong" dossier to UNESCO. This endorsement proposes the inclusion of Mo Muong intangible cultural heritage practices from Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Son La, and Dak Lak, and Hanoi City in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Mo Muong's journey to become intangible cultural heritage of humanity: Part 2 – Conservation, promotion of Mo Muong cultural values

Facing the risk of fading away due to aging artisans and dwindling performance space, the cultural heritage values of Mo Muong have been at the heart of Hoa Binh’s concerted preservation and promotion efforts.

Mo Muong on journey to becoming intangible cultural heritage of humanity: Part 1 - Values of Mo in Muong people’s life stand test of time

Hoa Binh province has over 63% of its population being Muong ethnic people, who have created and upheld a diverse culture for generations. In that culture, Mo Muong is an outstanding and unique identity holding profound human values. Over the past years, the province has carried out a number of concrete and practical activities to preserve and promote values of this cultural heritage. The Government has submitted a dossier to UNESCO to seek the inscription of Mo Muong into the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity in need of urgent safeguarding.

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