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| Gia Lai province has implemented many solutions and action programs to protect the Central Highlands gong cultural space. (Photo: Hoang Ngoc) |
In recent years, the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Spaces in general and Gia Lai in particular have also faced great challenges. Many traditional rituals and indigenous cultural spaces have gradually faded away in the lives of ethnic communities. The situation of gong bleeding, villages completely lacking gong and xoang rhythms, and the silence of enchanting epic melodies is no longer rare in Gia Lai.
New breath of life
Faced with the above situation, Gia Lai has implemented many solutions and action programs to protect the gong cultural space . Most recently, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 09/QD-UBND approving the Project to preserve and promote the heritage value of the Central Highlands gong cultural space in the province for the period 2023-2025.
Accordingly, the general objective of the Project is to preserve and promote the fine traditional values of the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space heritage in the province, in line with socio-economic development, the trend of international integration and associated with local tourism development; widely promote the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space in Gia Lai to domestic and foreign friends.
The project aims at 4 goals: Collecting statistics on existing gong sets, gong performers, gong tuners, traditional gong music, etc.; building 6 traditional "rong house - water wharf" models of the Bahnar and Jrai ethnic groups to restore the traditional space of gong culture in the province; recreating some traditional festivals using gongs of the Bahnar and Jrai people in the province; practicing gong performances is maintained regularly in Bahnar and Jrai ethnic villages throughout the province.
The Project's 8 component projects include: Project to investigate and survey gongs and gong practitioners in the whole province; Project to restore some rituals and festivals using gongs of the Bahnar and Jrai ethnic groups in the province; Project to organize classes to teach gong playing and gong tuning for the Bahnar and Jrai people in the province; Organize training courses on conservation and promotion of the heritage value of the Gong Cultural Space for district and commune-level officials; Organize scientific seminars on gongs combined with photo exhibitions on community activities using gongs; Organize regional gong festivals and the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Festival in Gia Lai province every 2 years; Project to restore the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space; Project to build the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space Gallery in Gia Lai province.
Unique tourism products
In an effort to protect and preserve the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai province has organized the "Weekend Gong" model. The model was first held on April 30 - May 1, 2022, at Dai Doan Ket Square, Pleiku City. This is a rotating activity between the artisan troupes of the two ethnic groups Bahnar and Jrai living in Gia Lai province, with the participation of about 40 artisans each night, taking place every Saturday night from 7-9pm.
| In 2005, the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space was recognized by UNESCO as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”. This title has now been changed to “Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”. |
The "Weekend Gong" program each night includes: Gong performance combined with traditional dance (suang), folk songs, folk dances, bamboo musical instrument performances, and reenactments of traditional rituals and festivals. In addition, visitors can interact and take photos with the artisans, learn about traditional culture; participate in the experience of dancing or playing gongs and enjoy jar wine and grilled chicken prepared by the artisans.
The gongs, musical instruments, costumes, and props used by the artists in the "Weekend Gong" program are all original, true to tradition, with basically no modern or innovative elements. The activities take place in a natural, open space on green grass, under the trees, without any theatricality. The art troupes participate with a free and comfortable mindset, expressing the beauty of their nation's traditional culture.
The model has initially achieved success in efforts to preserve and promote the value of cultural heritage, combined with tourism development in Gia Lai province. According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai, every night, "Weekend Gong" attracts thousands of tourists and residents to attend, many of whom hold hands to expand the suang (dance) circle with Bahnar and Jrai artisans.
Not only domestic and foreign tourists, many students have considered the program an interesting destination, a necessary supplement to the local education program that they have to learn at school. Most of the audience coming to "Weekend Gong" use social networking sites, thanks to which, images and videos about gong culture are spread more widely.
"Weekend Gong" is also an opportunity for village artists to have a space to practice their heritage and freely create the heritage they are holding. The model has created conditions for gongs to return to their original environment, artisans can naturally express the cultural beauty of the nation, at the same time, it becomes an interesting experience for tourists, contributing to promoting local tourism development and widely introducing and promoting the image of the land and people of Gia Lai.
Add catalyst
Coming to Gia Lai this November, visitors will enjoy a vibrant festival season on the plateau. The Gong Culture Festival with the theme "Cultural Colors" lasting two days, November 11-12, will gather about 1,000 local Bahnar and Jrai artisans and ethnic minority communities in several Central Highlands provinces to display the most unique and distinctive features of the gong cultural space.
The reunion was even more meaningful when the Jrai artists of Gia Lai province just returned from performing at the World Sound Festival (Jeonju International Sori Festival) in South Korea.
Master Nguyen Quang Tue, Head of Cultural Management Department (Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai), Head of the Artisan Group shared: “Participating in the World Sound Festival, among modern equipment and music, out of 11 participating countries, only Vietnam and Chile brought folk music to the stage. That is why we received the attention, follow-up and support of a large audience throughout the programs”.
Returning from Korea, each artist in the troupe brought with them great pride, the desire to spread and share their experiences in the "land of kimchi", thereby awakening in each person the love and desire to perform, bringing gongs beyond the village space, adding value to preserve and promote identity.
The Gong Culture Festival is a great opportunity for each participant to realize the stature, role, and responsibility of the "owner" of the gong cultural heritage space, thereby trying to practice skillfully, smoothly, and put the soul into each melody.
Master Nguyen Quang Tue believes that the regular organization of the Gong Culture Festival is a catalyst for the preservation and promotion of the unique values of Gia Lai in particular and the Central Highlands in general. “Through each festival, people are reminded of the unique cultural features passed down from their ancestors for thousands of years, and are encouraged to restore and preserve, learn and promote them further,” said the Head of the Cultural Management Department.
At the Gong Culture Festival, in addition to enjoying the special gong performances at the opening night of the Provincial Culture and Tourism Week, people and tourists can also participate in the street festival program with parades and performances by gong teams. Along with that, the tree-lined space of Dai Doan Ket Square (Pleiku City) is an ideal place for units to recreate the village space during the festival, bustling with gongs. Some localities will also restore important worship ceremonies in people's lives according to traditional customs of the indigenous people.
We believe that with their efforts and attempts, Gia Lai people will love traditional musical instruments, indigenous festivals and their enthusiasm in preserving and promoting the heritage value of the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space.
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