 |
| Ms. Le Thi Van (right) teaches members of the club how to play the Tar-lu |
Passing on culture
Since she was 15, Ms. Hoang Thi Ken, from Hong Tien 2 Village, Binh Dien Commune, has followed older women in the village to watch traditional dances. Over time, the dances of the Pa Hy people became familiar to her. According to Ms. Ken, each dance has its own meaning and is closely connected to Pa Hy life. Popular dances express joy and celebrate the fruits of people's labor, enriching community gatherings and activities.
For Ms. Ken, each melody is not simply performed at community events, but it also contains stories, emotions, and memories passed down through generations. Therefore, when teaching the children, she hopes they will not only memorize the lyrics and movements but also understand the meaning behind each song. “I want to pass these traditions on to the younger generation so they know how to preserve the cultural heritage of their people and prevent it from fading away,” Ms. Ken shared.
While Ms. Ken helps the younger generation learn the songs and dances, artisan Le Thi Van is dedicated to passing on the sounds of the Tar-lu, a traditional musical instrument. Each person has their own way of teaching, but they share the same desire to help the younger generation understand and appreciate Pa Hy culture. For Ms. Van, preserving the way the instrument is made and played also means preserving a part of her people's cultural memory. She personally teaches the younger generation everything from how to hold the instrument, tune its notes, and create rhythms to remembering individual melodies. She demonstrates each technique for the learners to observe and practice, correcting them as they train.
Continuing the tradition
The Pa Hy Traditional Folk Song Club was established in 2023. From its initial 25 members, the club has now grown to 30, including older people knowledgeable about the culture as well as younger members who will carry on the tradition. The club holds a session every week, during which members practice folk songs, dances, and traditional musical instruments under the guidance of older generations.
Not only club members, but also children aged 6 to 13 from across the commune are taught singing, dancing, and how to become familiar with traditional musical instruments. Early exposure gives the children more opportunities to understand cultural values that have long been closely connected to the life of the Pa Hy community.
Nguyen Hoang Mai Hanh, a young member from Hong Tien 1 Village, Binh Dien Commune, said: “Some of the uncles and aunties in the dance club teach me, so little by little I have learned the dances, such as the dance celebrating the new rice harvest and the fish-catching celebration dance. I'm happy to learn the dances of my people and to be able to join everyone in the club's activities”.
Through the club’s sessions, members have more opportunities to incorporate folk songs and traditional music into community activities. The club currently gives public performances once or twice a month. The performances are prepared during the weekly sessions, giving members opportunities both to practice and to introduce aspects of Pa Hy traditional culture.
Folk songs, traditional dances, and ethnic musical instruments are also incorporated into some activities welcoming visitors. This is an approach that local authorities are focusing on as they develop community-based tourism linked to local cultural identity.
Ms. Cao Thi Dau, Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Division of Binh Dien Commune, commented: “We work with artisans to organize teaching sessions according to different groups and age ranges. At the same time, we incorporate folk songs and traditional arts into community cultural activities. The goal is to give the younger generation opportunities to learn and practice, and eventually become the next generation of practitioners, contributing to the preservation and promotion of local cultural identity”.