The Central Highland province of Gia Lai is making every effort topreserve and promote the cultural space of its famous gongs, whichwere recognised by UNESCO as an intangible and oral masterpiece ofhuman culture in 2006.
The province reported thatJ’rai and Bahnar ethnic communities have preserved more than 5,600sets of gong, many of them extremely old.
J’rai people in Ia Grai district have preserved more than 1,000 sets, while Bahnar people in K’ Bang district keep over 900.
In2006, the province invested 200 million VND to buy new sets of gongs tobe given to ethnic minority villages in the locality. The localauthorities also opened courses on how to adjust a gong’s sound forelderly artisans.
Other courses on gong playing were alsoorganised in schools, while clubs and ensembles of gong players wereestablished. Gong festivals are held every two years, drawing many gongtroupes in the province.
Gia Lai also teamed up with otherlocalities in the Central Highlands to organise a series of activitiesto promote the heritage, with a highlight event - the International GongFestival 2009 - drawing 60 troupes from localities throughout thecountry and six regional nations.
Early this year, the provincealso successfully held festivals and tourism activities in connectionwith J’rai and Bahnar’s cultural space of gong.
According toPhan Xuan Vu, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sportsand Tourism, the local authorities will continue intensifyingsuitable activities in the coming time, towards sustainably preservingthe intangible cultural heritage.-VNA
The province reported thatJ’rai and Bahnar ethnic communities have preserved more than 5,600sets of gong, many of them extremely old.
J’rai people in Ia Grai district have preserved more than 1,000 sets, while Bahnar people in K’ Bang district keep over 900.
In2006, the province invested 200 million VND to buy new sets of gongs tobe given to ethnic minority villages in the locality. The localauthorities also opened courses on how to adjust a gong’s sound forelderly artisans.
Other courses on gong playing were alsoorganised in schools, while clubs and ensembles of gong players wereestablished. Gong festivals are held every two years, drawing many gongtroupes in the province.
Gia Lai also teamed up with otherlocalities in the Central Highlands to organise a series of activitiesto promote the heritage, with a highlight event - the International GongFestival 2009 - drawing 60 troupes from localities throughout thecountry and six regional nations.
Early this year, the provincealso successfully held festivals and tourism activities in connectionwith J’rai and Bahnar’s cultural space of gong.
According toPhan Xuan Vu, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sportsand Tourism, the local authorities will continue intensifyingsuitable activities in the coming time, towards sustainably preservingthe intangible cultural heritage.-VNA
