The echoes of bronze drums in the life of the Lo Lo people.

Bronze drums are a cultural symbol of the Lo Lo people. Photo: hagiang.gov.vn

The drums - The soul of the festival

Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Lung Cu commune, Tuyen Quang province, affirmed: Bronze drums are not just musical instruments, but also cultural symbols of the Lo Lo people. Whenever the drums resound, the village seems to burst with new life. Festivals are imbued with soul, sacred atmosphere, and unique vibrancy thanks to the sound of the drums.

For the Lolo people, the bronze drum is the voice of the village, a bridge between humans and deities and ancestors. In every festival season, the circle dance is incomplete without the leading drumbeat. Men keep the rhythm of the drums, while women in vibrant dresses move gracefully in a circle – a symbol of the harmony between heaven and earth, of the cycle of fertility and abundance.

The festival space is made even more vibrant by the traditional costumes of Lolo women - small pieces of fabric sewn together to form colorful dresses and blouses, embroidered with motifs of the sun, birds, buffalo horns, chicken footprints… carrying hopes for a bountiful harvest, strength, and happiness.

In particular, the Lolo bronze drums always come in pairs: a female drum and a male drum – symbolizing yin and yang, heaven and earth, father and mother. When the drums sound, the Lolo people believe that the entire village is sending their best wishes to the deities.

The sound of drums connects the cultural heritage of the highlands.

The Lolo people are one of the smallest ethnic groups in Vietnam. In Tuyen Quang province alone, the Lolo community numbers only a few hundred people, living in small villages, yet still preserving many traditional customs such as circle dances, harvest prayers, and ancestor worship.

Currently, the Lo Lo community in Tuyen Quang only has a very small number of ancient bronze drums left, considered a priceless heirloom. Mr. Sin Di Gai, head of Lo Lo Chai village, Lung Cu commune, shared: "As long as the bronze drums remain, the village remains. Losing the drums means losing the soul. We cherish the drums as if they were the honor of our people."

Along with bronze drums, many other intangible cultural elements are facing the risk of disappearing: ritual dances, ancient folk songs, and traditional festivals. Many young people only know how to beat drums to the rhythm of festivals, no longer grasping the specific rhythms for rituals such as praying for a good harvest or worshipping ancestors.

Elder Vàng Dỉ Lử lamented: "No one knows how to make new drums anymore. Few people know how to play the drums in the correct rhythm for each ceremony. If the younger generation doesn't relearn, in the future no one will understand what the drums are saying to the spirits."

Nevertheless, the people of Lo Lo Chai village still cherish their heritage. Elderly artisans persistently teach the art of drumming, embroidery, and traditional festival practices. They believe that cultural identity only lives on when practiced daily, not just in memory.

Visitors also feel the same way. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Lan, a tourist from Hanoi , shared: "Watching the Lo Lo people play drums and dance in the circle during the festival is an unforgettable experience. The rhythm of the drums sounds like the sounds of the mountains and forests - both sacred and familiar."

Conservation for sustainable development

Recognizing the value of this heritage, Tuyen Quang province and local Party committees and authorities are actively promoting the preservation of the bronze drum tradition, linking preservation with community tourism development. The Lo Lo Chai village has revived many traditional festivals, opened classes to teach circle dance, and organized cultural exchange nights at the communal house – where the sound of the bronze drum continues to resonate in contemporary life.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung added: "Lung Cu commune is focusing on restoring the original values ​​of the Lo Lo people. We encourage the people to pass on the art of drumming and the practice of rituals, so that the sound of the drums will not only resonate during festivals, but also throughout the development of Lung Cu, a commune rich in cultural identity."

Sharing that sentiment, Mr. Sin Di Gai stated, as if making a vow of the village: As long as there are children learning to play the drums, and people wearing traditional dresses and skirts during festivals, the Lo Lo Chai village will endure. And the bronze drums will continue to resonate.

In the late afternoon, as mist lingered over the rammed earth walls, the sound of bronze drums echoed, reverberating against the cliffs and spreading down into the valley. It was not merely the sound of a festival, but a melody of pride, the enduring vitality of a small yet powerful people amidst the vast wilderness.

In the unified cultural space of Tuyen Quang province today, the bronze drums of the Lo Lo people are not only a precious heritage but also a unique highlight for building distinctive tourism products and spreading cultural values ​​to friends around the world. To achieve this, long-term preservation programs are needed, encouraging community participation in teaching and practicing the heritage, so that the sound of the bronze drums resonates not only in festivals but also throughout the development journey of a Tuyen Quang rich in cultural identity.

According to VNA

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/am-vang-trong-dong-trong-doi-song-nguoi-lo-lo-a468710.html