Expanding cultural ownership in Dien Bien Dong

Dien Bien Dong district is home to ethnic communities: Mong, Thai, Kho Mu, Lao, Xinh Mun, Kinh. Each ethnic group has its own customs, beliefs, and costumes. In recent years, along with the development of society, the subjects holding traditional culture have gradually expanded.

As one of the 6 ethnic groups in Dien Bien Dong district, the Mong people have many unique and long-standing cultural features. The preservation and development of traditional cultural features are mainly carried out in each house, from generation to generation, with concepts such as girls need to know how to embroider and make clothes for the family, boys in addition to being good at farming must also know how to play the panpipe, play the flute, dance with the panpipe... These cultural features are preserved, serving the cultural and religious life of the Mong people.

Originating from the division of production labor and the concept of the roles and responsibilities of men and women in the community, musical instrument artisans, especially panpipe artisans - the soul of the Mong people - are all men.

Image of the panpipe, the cultural soul of the Mong people.

As society develops, in Dien Bien Dong, the cultural subjects are gradually expanding. Ms. Mua Thi Ong, Huoi Den village, Pu Hong commune is one of the special women, because she is not only good at sewing and embroidering but also knows how to play and perform musical instruments from flutes, two-stringed fiddles to panpipes. This is a good sign because the subjects holding the Mong ethnic culture are gradually expanding and becoming equal.

Ms. Mua Thi Ong shared: Starting from my love for the traditional culture of the Mong people, I researched, researched and learned how to play musical instruments. From spring festivals, competitions or in daily life, musical instruments are always companions expressing thoughts and feelings to those around me. At the first-year flute competition, I participated in the Mong flute blowing and dancing competition, the performances were mainly self-discovered and creative, closely related to daily life. This not only helps me satisfy my passion but also affirms the equality in holding on to my ethnic culture, encouraging Mong women who love culture to explore, develop and preserve the traditional culture of their ethnic group.

Ms. Mua Thi Ong performs Mong flute at the spring festival at the beginning of the year.

For many years now, the development of traditional culture has been focused on by the Party Committee and the government of Dien Bien Dong district. In addition to promoting and opening training and education classes, the creation of playgrounds and conditions for cultural features to be promoted, closely linked to the socio -economic development of the people, has been promoted.

With the characteristics of the highlands, the spring festival in Dien Bien Dong is an indispensable "specialty" at the beginning of the new year, a place where many cultural and artistic activities, folk games take place... This is not only an ideal spring outing and entertainment spot at the beginning of the year, but also an opportunity to preserve, fan the flames and develop traditional culture.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tang, Vice Chairman of Dien Bien Dong District People's Committee said: To develop and expand cultural subjects, creating a playground is extremely important. The Spring Festival at the beginning of the year is a big playground, an opportunity to develop more cultural nuclei regardless of age, gender. This year, the district has adjusted and improved to suit, creating the most favorable conditions to develop traditional culture of ethnic groups in accordance with modern life.

Dien Bien Dong Spring Festival, where traditional cultural features are promoted and expanded.

For example, the Mong flute performance will be divided into the elderly performing the old flute, the young performing the new flute, adding many different performance elements. Street performances and exchanges will take place at locations along the road with folk songs and traditional arts of ethnic groups... Creating an open cultural space so that people can learn, exchange and develop culture.

With the orientations and favorable conditions to promote culture, in Dien Bien Dong, the subjects holding culture gradually change, not only limited to the concept of ethnic communities but gradually expanding and developing to the majority of people, regardless of gender or age.

Tran Nham/Dien Bien Phu Newspaper

Source: https://baophutho.vn/mo-rong-chu-the-nam-giu-van-hoa-tai-dien-bien-dong-227049.htm