Young Ca Dong people are excited about traditional gong and drum activities

Once a month, gong teams usually organize practice. Photo_ PHAN VINH — Once a month, gong teams usually organize practice. Photo: PHAN VINH

Pride in national tone

Having just finished the 2023-2024 school year, Ho Nguyen Kieu Uyen (born in 2012, village 1, Tra Tan commune, Bac Tra My) asked her family to register her to join the group of young members of the traditional gong team of the commune. Every week during this summer, she is taught the rice dance by her brothers, sisters, and uncles in the gong team, performing with the traditional gong rhythm of the Ca Dong people.

Kieu Uyen shared that since she was little, whenever the village had a festival, she would go watch people perform gongs and rituals, so she felt excited and could stand for hours watching every detail of the festival.

There are children under 10 years old who also participate in the local gong team. Photo_ PHAN VINH — There are children under 10 years old who also participate in the local gong team. Photo: PHAN VINH

"When I was little, every time I watched the uncles and aunts perform, I would wrap a towel around myself and stand in front of the mirror to imitate the movements of the rice dance. At that time, I really wanted to participate, but I was too young to register. This year, I am old enough to ask my parents to join the gong and drum activities," said Uyen.

[VIDEO] - Young Ca Dong people share their pride in gong art:

Nguyen Van Thanh (born in 2009, village 2, Tra Doc commune, Bac Tra My) has been participating in the commune's gong team for 3 years. During the recent training session to teach gongs and drums to the Ca Dong people of the three communes of Tra Tan, Tra Doc and Tra Son in Long Son village (Tra Son commune), with his experience, Thanh supported and guided other young people to join the learning. According to him, in addition to the characteristics of costumes, customs and rituals, the gong performance of the Ca Dong people is very sacred.

Nguyen Van Thanh is passionate about practicing gong playing. Photo_ PHAN VINH — Nguyen Van Thanh is passionate about practicing gong playing. Photo: PHAN VINH

"Although going through many different stages, the rituals in the gong activities of the Ca Dong people are still preserved and passed down from generation to generation" - Thanh proudly said.

“
Nowadays, when society develops, young Ca Dong people go to work everywhere, for those reasons, to avoid the loss of the gong dance, young people like us must understand and practice it.
I am Nguyen Van Thanh.

Promoting the advantages of young people

Mr. Ho Thanh Hung (Long Son village, Tra Son commune) said that in the village there are currently 2 traditional gong teams, each team has about 30 people, of which 70% are the young generation under 35 years old. In particular, there are members who are very young, about 7-10 years old, but are quite proficient in dances.

In addition to peak festival seasons, such as celebrating the new rice harvest, eating buffalo flowers, and carrying the rice spirit, gong teams also travel from village to village to perform. Once a month, they practice together so as not to "forget their lessons".

Mr. Hung believes that today's young generation learns very quickly. Some people only need to practice 1-2 times to master it, and even dance better than those who have been practicing for a long time.

The local gong team will serve the village's festivals. Photo_ PHAN VINH — The local gong team will perform for village festivals. Photo: PHAN VINH

Mr. Hung said: "Through training sessions and teaching gongs, the older generation like us are also very happy when the younger generation is interested, the previous worry about lacking successors is no longer there."

[VIDEO] - Mr. Ho Thanh Hung shares about the local gong team:

Recently, the People's Committee of Bac Tra My district has implemented Project 6: "Preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development" under the National Target Program on socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the district in 2024. In which, there are training activities, teaching gong drum dance to Ca Dong and Co ethnic minorities in the district. This is a favorable environment for the young generation of ethnic minorities to receive, preserve and promote the beauty of gong drum culture in community activities.

The young generation of Cadong people are very proud of their cultural values. Photo_ PHAN VINH — The young generation of Ca Dong people are very proud of their traditional cultural values. Photo: PHAN VINH

Ms. Vo Thi Thuy Hang - Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Bac Tra My district said that recently, the unit has invited reporters, artisans, practitioners to present, guide theory, practice, and teach gong drum dance in many localities. Training in the art of gong fighting and k'đtau dance for the Co people in Tra Kot and Tra Nu communes and organizing gong drum activities for the Ca Dong people in Tra Tan, Tra Son, Tra Doc, Tra Bui, Tra Giac, Tra Giap and Tra Ka communes.

70% of the members in the gong teams are under 35 years old. Photo_ PHAN VINH — 70% of the members in the gong teams are under 35 years old. Photo: PHAN VINH

"This training course had more than 350 participants, including children who were only 10 years old or even younger. They were very passionate and excited to practice. This was quite a surprise to the organizers. After participating in the training course, the children had basically grasped the basic moves and could practice more locally, contributing to preserving and promoting the culture of ethnic minorities in the district" - Ms. Hang informed.