The Central Highlands province of Gia Lai has devised measures topreserve the Bahnar epic poems which received the title of NationalIntangible Heritage in September last year, said Phan Xuan Vu, Directorof the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Gia Lai province plans to issue books of Bahnar epic poems to localschools with ethnic minority students, particularly boarding andsemi-boarding schools, and sponsor folk culture concerts that includeperformances of Bahnar epics.
Preferentialpolicies have also been adopted to encourage epic singers and tellers tocontinue performing and passing their skills and knowledge to theyounger generation.
The provincial authorityhas nominated 15 Bahnar epic performing artists as Meritorious Artistsand People’s Artists, Vietnam’s honorary titles for exceptionalachievements in the arts.
Called Hoamon in theBahnar language, the epic poems are legends about the tribe’s heroesand great events, representing centuries-old aspirations of the Bahnarpeople. They are long enough to sing and tell through several nights,the longest takes weeks or even months to finish, as sung by memory.
One of these legends, the epic of Dam Noi, wasfirst discovered in the 1980s in Kong Chro. Other epics found in theregion have been translated and published bilingually since 2000.
The province is currently home to 20 epic performing artists livingin the districts of Dak Po, Dak Doa, Kbang and Kong Chro. They knowaround 70 Bahnar epic poems by heart, including Dyong Du, Dam Noi, DioHao Jrang, Bia Brau, Atau So Hle Kone Goseng and Giong Trong Yuan.-VNA
Gia Lai province plans to issue books of Bahnar epic poems to localschools with ethnic minority students, particularly boarding andsemi-boarding schools, and sponsor folk culture concerts that includeperformances of Bahnar epics.
Preferentialpolicies have also been adopted to encourage epic singers and tellers tocontinue performing and passing their skills and knowledge to theyounger generation.
The provincial authorityhas nominated 15 Bahnar epic performing artists as Meritorious Artistsand People’s Artists, Vietnam’s honorary titles for exceptionalachievements in the arts.
Called Hoamon in theBahnar language, the epic poems are legends about the tribe’s heroesand great events, representing centuries-old aspirations of the Bahnarpeople. They are long enough to sing and tell through several nights,the longest takes weeks or even months to finish, as sung by memory.
One of these legends, the epic of Dam Noi, wasfirst discovered in the 1980s in Kong Chro. Other epics found in theregion have been translated and published bilingually since 2000.
The province is currently home to 20 epic performing artists livingin the districts of Dak Po, Dak Doa, Kbang and Kong Chro. They knowaround 70 Bahnar epic poems by heart, including Dyong Du, Dam Noi, DioHao Jrang, Bia Brau, Atau So Hle Kone Goseng and Giong Trong Yuan.-VNA
