Live on through time

(Baonghean) - The folk songs of Nghe Tinh (Vi and Dam) have officially become a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is a great honor and source of pride for the whole country in general and for the people of Nghe An in particular. Thus, the simple melodies of the countryside in the ancient Hoan-Dien region have been recognized and honored by the whole world. The remaining question is: what should be done and how should it be done to continue and forever live up to this honor?

The reason for asking such a question is that some cultural heritage sites honored by UNESCO have had their titles revoked because they no longer retained their original form. Specifically, in 2007, the Arabian Oryx Reserve in Oman lost its title due to rampant poaching and environmental pollution that severely impacted rare animal species. Two years later, UNESCO revoked the World Heritage status of the Elbe Valley in Dresden (Germany) because the construction of a four-lane bridge across the river ruined the valley's landscape. And Vietnamese Ca Tru, while still holding the title of Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is currently facing the risk of disappearing. If timely measures are not taken to save it,The chances of having the title revoked are very high.

Therefore, the immediate task after being recognized as such is to create favorable conditions for programs, projects, and specific solutions to ensure that the approximately 15 folk songs and eight traditional songs, named according to their context of life, work, and occupation, continue to be widely disseminated within the Vietnamese community. This is especially important in the villages, hamlets, and residential areas of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, creating a unique cultural identity for Nghe An. According to heritage experts, folk songs are very ordinary and simple, so preservation will not face as many challenges as other sophisticated art forms that require subtlety and elaborate performance. However, without appropriate steps and methods, achieving the desired results will not be easy. The challenge is to both promote and dramatize the heritage without making it commonplace, and to ensure that folk songs, which are closely linked to the Nghe An dialect, can spread to other communities, be understood, and appreciated.

This is truly a challenge, because the folk songs and dances originated and existed alongside traditional activities and occupational groups in rural areas. Nowadays, traditional craft villages, folk activities, and performance forms associated with these types of activities are becoming increasingly rare, even disappearing. This means that the current living environment for folk songs and dances is very limited and fragile. Therefore, the immediate task is to restore and recreate the living environment for these songs and dances. First, we need to find the true creators of these folk songs and dances – the people who understand this form of folk culture, often called "folk artisans" – to preserve and pass them on to the younger generation. Along with that, we need to create a suitable living environment for folk songs and dances within the community, within the very performance space of this folk art form. This involves restoring traditional craft villages and trades linked to tourism, so that folk singing is integrated into the living space and working environment of the community. At the same time, it creates a source of income to sustainably maintain these traditions.

Furthermore, it is necessary to establish folk singing clubs and groups in each village and commune, making them a regular cultural activity. This should be considered one of the criteria for being recognized as a cultural village or commune. In particular, the Ví and Dặm folk songs should be used as an attractive means of propaganda through folk dramas incorporating Ví and Dặm elements, creating new vitality in the daily lives of the community. Crucially, we must now begin to effectively promote and publicize the value of the Ví and Dặm folk songs of Nghe An and Ha Tinh as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, ensuring that the people understand that this noble title and invaluable intangible cultural heritage belong to all the people of Nghe An. This will encourage them to actively, proactively, and creatively participate in the preservation, protection, and development of Ví and Dặm folk songs.

Duy Huong