Thanks to the effort of leaders and people of Khanh Son in the protection of Raglai cultural character, many artists have been honored for their preserving, compiling and teaching Raglai folk epic poetry...
 |
| Young people are playing the so-called "ma la". |
Thanks to the effort of leaders and people of Khanh Son in the protection of Raglai cultural character, many artists have been honored for their preserving, compiling and teaching Raglai folk epic poetry. Raglai architectural houses are also under construction.
On a visit to an old man named Bo Bo Suong in Ta Luong Village, To Hap Town, we met ten young people sitting in a circle playing Raglai melodies which are written for such events as a wedding, new house, new harvest, etc. He said, "They are quick at playing the ma la, a Raglai’s musical instrument. Thanks to the concern and support of the Party and local authorities, young people can play their ancestors’ melodies.”
Under the government’s document 588, Khanh Son District has opened 3 “ma la” courses attended by 30 young people in Ba Cum Bac Commune, Thanh Son Commune and To Hap Town. There are three classes a week. The instructors are village patriarchs, who are well-informed about “ma la” melodies. Besides the melody course, an epic poetry course has been held for 25 students of Raglai ethnic minority at Khanh Son Boarding School. The instructors are Cao Thi Quang, Cao Thi Thanh and Mau Thi Gieng.
According to Raglai culture researchers named Tran Vu and Mau Quoc Tien, the trainees have acquired Raglai melodies and epic poetry well. Artist Cao Thi Thanh said, “I used to be afraid that our children could not know our folk music. I am very happy that now they can sing and play our musical melodies. I hope that they will preserve the cultural values and teach them to younger generations.”
In addition, 4 long houses which are a type of long, proportionately narrow and single-rooms are being built in Son Hiep Commune, Ba Cum Bac Commune, Thanh Son Commune and To Hap Town. It costs VND500 million/ house, of which VND400 million is from the central fund and VND100 million is from the district’s fund. The long houses are under construction and expected to be a place for cultural events of Raglai communities.
The district in cooperation with the Khanh Hoa Folk Literature and Art Association Branch has collected materials and submited proposals to Vietnam Folk Literature and Art Association for rewarding the title “Epic poetry Singers” to three old people named Cao Thi Thanh, Cao Thi Quang and Mau Thi Gieng for their great contribution to preservation of Raglai culture.
According to Mau Thai Cu, Deputy Chairman of Khanh Son District People’s Committee, it is essential to protect Raglai people’s cultural character. In the time to come, Khanh Son District will have detailed projects to restore Raglai’s festivals and traditional cultural events, which can be seen as attractive tourist products in Khanh Son District.
N.T
