When Cham party members follow Uncle Ho's words

"Everything I have achieved today is thanks to the Party and beloved Uncle Ho. Throughout my studies and work, Uncle Ho has always been a shining example for me, my family and the Cham people to follow. The Cham people are willing to learn and follow Uncle Ho to preserve and promote the national cultural identity and together enrich their homeland..." - Mr. Cuu Dang Long An - a Cham ethnic party member working at the Center for Culture, Information and Sports of Bac Binh district affirmed this when talking to me.

Learn and follow Uncle Ho

Having the opportunity to visit the Center for Culture, Information and Sports of Bac Binh district on a weekend, we saw groups of Cham children gathering together to join in the dances and musical instruments of their ethnic group... Men were playing drums and gongs, women were dancing with fans, creating a very lively and attractive artistic space. Interested and a bit curious about this artistic "playground", we asked and found out that this playground was initiated by Mr. Cuu Dang Long An (born in 1984, Binh Hieu village, Phan Hiep commune, Bac Binh), an artist currently working at the Center for Culture, Information and Sports of Bac Binh district, who is passionate and also the one who inspires the teenagers and children here.

Bac Binh is a place where many unique folk festivals take place regularly. Since childhood, Long An followed his father, the excellent artisan Cuu Lac - a Mâduen (drumming master), around the village to listen to the sounds of the Ghi nang drum and Saranai trumpet, which penetrated his soul when he was young. When he grew up, he had the opportunity to work related to ethnic culture, so Long An had the advantage of going on field trips to research, collect, and record cultural festivals of ethnic groups in the district, as a basis for editing and staging later. Realizing that Cham culture is increasingly less interested in Cham youth, especially teenagers, Long An came up with the idea that he must be responsible for preserving and promoting the national cultural identity. This idea also comes from responding to and implementing Directive 05 of the Politburo on implementing "Studying and following the ideology, morality, and style of Ho Chi Minh" that he set for himself.

Mr. Long An (sitting on the floor) is instructing students and tourists about musical instruments.

Mr. Long An confided: “At first, I only taught a few children in the same village to serve in festivals, but after a while, many children in other villages also wanted to learn. So in 2017, I advised the Center for Culture, Information and Sports of Bac Binh district to establish and maintain the club "Cham Children's Talents of Bac Binh district". Every year, I personally teach Cham musical instruments and folk dances for free to more than 80 students from 3 Cham communes participating”. To have the Cham children's club like today was not easy. Before, it was very difficult to gather children to participate in activities because their houses were far away and they also depended on their parents. Mr. Long An had to go to each house to mobilize, analyze, and instill in the children the passion and love so that they would maintain activities at the club.

Mobilizing Cham people to follow Uncle Ho's teachings

Currently, the "Cham Children's Talents of Bac Binh District" club is maintaining and creating a good impression with the Cham people. Some children are now participating in performances with the group during festivals and competitions, contributing to preserving and developing the national cultural identity. Minh Nhat Tan, a club member, said: "A few years ago, I followed Long An to visit Cham villages on the occasion of the Ka Te and Ramuwan festivals. I listened to the sounds of the instruments and drums of my people and the "artistic blood" in me gradually grew and now I am one of the artistic cores of Cham ethnic musical instruments." "I feel very excited and happy when I join my friends in the dances and songs of my ethnic group. Since Uncle Long An taught me about dances and musical instruments, I have been very excited. When I joined the dance team, I felt very proud and loved my ethnic group more, so even though my home is far away, I still diligently come to practice with everyone," said Van Thi Huong Giang, a Cham ethnic female student.

As a propagandist, a professional officer in building cultural and artistic movements, and the Head of the Bac Binh Cham Folk Art Group, Mr. Long An also participated in building many folk art programs to serve the propaganda of the law for the majority of ethnic minorities. From there, it helps people understand more about the State's legal policies, and at the same time propagates and mobilizes Cham people to actively study and follow Uncle Ho's words... through skits such as: Traffic propaganda Whose fault is it, 4 things to remember, The color of terracotta... In each club meeting, Mr. Long An always propagates to the club members about studying and following Uncle Ho, specifically the effort to preserve and promote the cultural identity of their nation...

Together we unite the community

On the occasion of the Kate Festival of the Cham people, Mr. Long An also staged Cham folk art performances to participate in the Kate Festival at the PosahInư tower in Phan Thiet. In particular, every year, he was trusted by the locality to edit and stage the coronation ceremony at the Pônit temple (Binh Hieu village, Phan Hiep commune) with more than 100 actors and artists participating. In addition, Mr. Long An was also invited by the Binh Thuan Blue Sea Music and Dance Theater to participate in the 2020 National Traditional Instrument Ensemble Competition in Ho Chi Minh City with the achievements of 1 gold medal, 1 silver medal... In 2022, he also participated in choreographing the Cham folk art program at the Cultural and Sports Festival of Ethnic Groups in Binh Thuan province, creating many good impressions for the audience with the first prize for the whole group (5 A prizes, 2 B prizes). Thanks to that, Bac Binh district's program was selected by the province to represent the Central region's Ethnic Culture and Sports Festival in Binh Dinh in 2023 and won high prizes (2 A prizes, 3 B prizes, 2 C prizes).

Mr. Long An (2nd from right) performs with students in Hanoi.

In addition to his outstanding achievements in art, Mr. Long An and his family also actively participate in community activities, strengthening the relationship between neighbors. For example, he created a volunteer group on Zalo to connect friends who are working far from home, including Cham - Kinh people, to participate in volunteer work, to help many difficult situations...

Mr. Long An (third from right) received the A prize - final concert performance of the Vietnam Folk Song Festival in Hanoi.

As a pioneer in the local art and sports movement, he was recognized by the Standing Committee of the District Youth Union as a typical example of an advanced person following Uncle Ho's teachings. The Standing Committee of the Bac Binh District Party Committee commended and rewarded individuals who were active in the patriotic movement, contributing to the effective implementation of Directive 03 in 2014; the Chairman of the Bac Binh District People's Committee awarded him a certificate of merit for his outstanding achievements in Cham folk art activities... Especially in 2009, Mr. Long An was also awarded the Advanced Youth Medal following Uncle Ho's teachings by comrade Vo Van Thuong - First Secretary of the Central Youth Union (now the President)...

"To fulfill the duty of passing on to the next generations the preservation and promotion of national cultural identity, I myself need to strive to practice and improve my art to continue to preserve my national cultural identity and be ready to help the youth of ethnic minorities," that is Long An's thought.

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