A family "preserves" the Hmong flute melody.

(Baonghean)During the recent "Law Knowledge Contest" for ethnic minorities in Nghe An province, everyone was impressed by the skillful Hmong flute dance performance by three young children from the same family: Va Ba Chu (15 years old), Va Y Kho (12 years old), and Va Po Chua (11 years old) from Huoi Co village, Nhon Mai commune, Tuong Duong district.

Their father, Mr. Va Ba Dua, has long been famous as the guardian of the Mong flute melody, having won the A prize at the Nghe An Ethnic Minority Arts Festival in Quy Hop district in 2010 and many other awards at the commune, district, and cluster levels.



Anh and Ba Dua adjusted their daughter's hat before she went on stage to perform.

Remarkably, in those previous performances, Mr. Dua never performed alone on stage; he always played and danced the traditional flute with his wife and children. But this time, he only brought his children, letting the three of them perform on stage while he "retired" to the audience seats to silently encourage and support them. Watching his children perform confidently and skillfully, he couldn't help but feel joyful, knowing that his efforts had finally paid off.

Anh Và Bá Đùa is continuing the work of his father, his ancestors, and the Hmong people of previous generations. Born in 1971, he developed a passion for the Hmong flute from the day he heard his grandfather, the village elder Và Tổng Sư, playing the flute while telling stories; from the time he was a toddler following his father down the mountain to festivals. As he grew up, at 13, he began learning to play the flute from his talented father, from the elders in the village, and sought out more teachers and friends, making his flute playing even more melodious, enchanting, and profound. In turn, he seeks to pass on this knowledge to future generations, starting with his wife and children, regardless of whether they are sons or daughters...

"This is the first time my nephew and I have traveled from the most remote and isolated village in the high mountainous district to the city to perform," he shyly shared. "At first, my father made me learn, but I didn't like it at all. I didn't want to learn because it was too difficult. But after learning and understanding, I really enjoyed it."

Having someone who knows how to dance and play the Hmong flute in the right rhythm and tempo, capturing the soul of the Hmong flute, is incredibly precious. Even more valuable is someone who has the awareness, responsibility, and ability to teach others. Hopefully, there will be more people like the Va Ba Dua family, so that in the future, the Hmong flute music will not fade away or disappear!

Ho Lai