Everyone can preserve identity

(Baonghean) - Thai ethnic folk artist - Ms. Dinh Thi Minh Nguyet (Phong village, Thach Giam commune, Tuong Duong district) talked with Nghe An Newspaper reporter about the work of preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic minorities.

Artist Dinh Thi Minh Nguyet.

- Dear artist Dinh Thi Minh Nguyet, many people know you not only as a passionate "actress" on the village stage, but also as someone who is dedicated to collecting, preserving and developing the traditional culture of ethnic minorities. What inspired you to come and stick with the folk songs and dances of your people?

- Since childhood, I have loved to dance and sing the melodies of lam, xuoi, lullabies... of my people. At the age of 6, I was in the district's mass art troupe attending the Ethnic Minority Art Performance Festival in Tan Ky district with the dance performance "Beautiful Champa Flowers" and received the award for the youngest actor. My first success was from then on. After that, I continued to go to the capital to dance in the performance. That pride further urged me to pursue my artistic dream... But then, circumstances did not allow me to pursue professional art, so I applied to be a collaborator of the Information - Propaganda Team of the District Cultural - Information Center.

Together with my teammates, I enthusiastically and passionately traveled to all the villages to bring songs and chants to encourage the people of the Thai, Mong, Kho Mu, Tay Poong ethnic groups to actively work and produce, wholeheartedly following the call of the Party and Uncle Ho. Each trip like that helped me understand more clearly the cultural life and identity of each community, and absorb more of the quintessence of each ethnic group. In art performances from the commune, district, to provincial levels, from being an actor on stage, I began to participate in choreographing and staging the program...

To make the performance imbued with the identity, I have repeatedly gone to the villages of the Mong, Khmu and Tay Poong people to learn about the unique cultural life. From searching, to selecting and elevating to include in my performance. Perhaps, that research, together with the determination to preserve the identity, has helped the Tuong Duong District Mass Art Troupe always be at the top of the cultural and artistic festivals and exchanges.

- What do you think about the cultural life of your people? Surely you also see the risk of fading traditional culture, specifically Thai culture?

- Everyone has pride in their community and their people. I am also proud of the richness and unique beauty of the Thai ethnic cultural life. The more I learn about traditional culture, the more I see its shimmering, hidden beauty... And, like other ethnic groups, the most worrying manifestation is that the young generation is tending to follow foreign culture, moving away from traditional culture. Most of them do not know how to perform Thai folk songs, cannot distinguish between the melodies of the "Xap", "Lam", "Nhoon", "Xoi"... In particular, Thai boys and girls used to have a very good custom of singing in response, but now few people sing it anymore. Not to mention some beautiful customs in weddings and annual festivals are also at risk of being lost, many people no longer understand the process and customs of organizing a traditional wedding.

Artisan Dinh Thi Minh Nguyet always researches and learns from her predecessors.

- In recent years, there have been many encouraging signs in the work of preserving and maintaining traditional culture, in which you have made efforts to contribute. Could you tell us a little about this work?

- Fortunately, in the village and locality where I live, there are many people who are truly dedicated to the work of preserving the national cultural identity such as Mr. Vang Van Phung, Mr. Lo Huu Toan, Mrs. La Thi Phuong... They regularly teach and remind their children not to forget their mother tongue, to sing the melodies passed down by their ancestors, to preserve and love their ethnic costumes... And whenever they have the opportunity, they are willing to put aside their family work to participate in practicing and teaching the younger generation. Without needing remuneration or compensation, for them, teaching the younger generation is the greatest joy. And recently, the authorities in Tuong Duong have paid much attention to the work of preserving and promoting cultural identity with the support of the folk song and dance clubs to operate actively, not to mention opening classes to teach Thai Lai Pao script, helping people better understand the writing of their ethnic group...

- According to you, what should be done to preserve the beauty of traditional culture?

- I think it requires efforts from many sides. It must be considered a common task of the community. Depending on their conditions and abilities, each person needs to be aware of contributing their efforts and intelligence to that common work. Teaching children a nursery rhyme, or creating a habit for them to communicate in their mother tongue, advising them to wear traditional costumes is contributing to preservation... In other words, in the community, everyone can contribute to preserving identity. On the other hand, in addition to regular attention, when considering officials to do cultural work, authorities need to choose people who are truly dedicated and have talent, understanding of cultural capital and passion.

- Sincere thanks to artist Dinh Thi Minh Nguyet for this conversation!

Cong Kien(Perform)