Clubs promote cultural heritages of ethnic minorities

Updated: 15:18, 03/07/2024

BAC GIANG - Cultural and art clubs in Bac Giang province have recently organised many activities to preserve and promote the values of cultural heritages in ethnic minority areas, contributing to boosting cultural and art movements at the grassroots level, thus improving the cultural and spiritual life of local people.

In the province, there are more than 50 ethnic minority folk singing clubs, mainly in Luc Ngan, Son Dong, Luc Nam, Yen The and Lang Giang district. Luc Ngan district alone has 32 such clubs, each with 25-40 members.

A performance by Meritorious Artist Luc Van Tich, head of the Then singing - Tinh musical instrument playing club of Son Hai commune (Luc Ngan district).

The Then singing - Tinh musical instrument playing club in Son Hai commune (Luc Ngan) chaired by Meritorious Artisan Luc Van Tich (born in 1977), a Nung ethnic minority in Cau Sat village, Son Hai commune, has maintained regular activities for 10 years.

Over the years, Tich has diligently taught club members how to sing Then songs and play Tinh musical instrument, and composed hundreds of Then songs. Every month, the club organises 1-2 activities.

Along with maintaining activities, clubs in some districts also restore unique folk songs and dances that have long been faded. Typically, the Tac Xing dance club in Le Vien commune (Son Dong district) has made many contributions to preserving the heritage.

The activities of the clubs have contributed to promoting local cultural and art movements, raising community awareness of and responsibility for preserving and promoting heritage values. Many unique heritages have become tourism products that initially attract tourists and create jobs for locals.

At some community tourist destinations such as Ven village in Xuan Luong commune, Yen The district; Na O village in An Lac commune, Son Dong district; Sinh ca clubs of Cao Lan ethnic group and Then singing - Tinh musical instrument playing clubs of Tay and Nung ethnic groups regularly perform to serve tourists.

Determining that artisans play a key role in the activities of clubs, over the past time, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has directed the preparation of applications for awarding the "People's Artisan" and “Meritorious Artisan” titles in the field of intangible cultural heritage.

Now the province has 14 ethnic minority artisans granted with these titles, including one People's Artisan and 13 Meritorious Artisans. These are typical artisans who have made great contributions to preserving the intangible cultural heritages of ethnic minorities.

The Sinh ca club of Xuan Luong commune (Yen The district) serves tourists visiting Ven village.

In particular, in December 2023, the provincial People's Council passed a resolution stipulating policies to support People's Artisans and Meritorious Artisans in the field of intangible cultural heritage with a monthly allowance of 1.8 million VND (70.7 USD) and 1.5 million VND per person, respectively.

Nguyen Si Cam, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that in order to improve the quality of clubs’ activities, in the coming time, the unit will continue to coordinate with sectors and localities to implement a project on conserving and promoting the cultural heritage of ethnic groups in Bac Giang province for 2021-2030. It will review programmes, projects, plans, mechanisms and policies for timely adjustments to meet reality requirements.

Competitions, performances, and festivals will be held to create a spillover effect in the community; while the quality of clubs’ activities will be maintained and improved. Bac Giang will actively participate in intangible cultural heritage performance activities to introduce and promote its heritages; and focus on training and improving the qualifications of management and professional staff in charge of preserving cultural heritages, especially those in ethnic minority areas.

Cong Doanh