Join hands to preserve the heritage

Selling land to maintain the "fire" of art

In Dinh An commune, there is an excellent artist Danh Be who is knowledgeable about many musical instruments and traditional Khmer dances; he also composes scripts and teaches dance to many people. To maintain the "fire" of his passion, he sold 10 hectares of rice fields to buy props, costumes for performances and travel expenses... At the age of seventy, but every night, in front of his house, Mr. Danh Be still diligently corrects each dance movement, hand movement, eye contact with each song, verse, musical instrument, and drum beat for the children. Mr. Danh Be confided: "Each dance, verse, drum beat... is an art, a profession, a legacy of our ancestors. I teach and maintain the "family theater" with the desire to pass on the good values ​​of the Khmer people so that the next generation does not forget the soul of the people".

Traditional Khmer dance performance. Photo: PHAM HIEU

Meritorious artist Danh Be was born into a family with an artistic tradition. From a young age, he showed his talent and regularly participated in the community's artistic movement. When he grew up, he joined the provincial Khmer art troupe. Later, he moved to Dinh An commune to live and established an art troupe in the hamlet; at the same time, he wrote scripts and taught dance... From 2000 to present, he has been the Head of the Dinh Hoa commune Du Ke Art Troupe, with a core force of 40 members who are children, grandchildren, and in-laws in the family, specializing in performing arts and participating in competitions in and outside the province, winning many high prizes.

In addition, Mr. Danh Be also researches, learns and makes musical instruments and masks for the Ro Bam stage; composes scripts for traditional folk dances such as Apsara, Saravan, Ro Bam, Sa Dam dance, Coconut shell dance... for performances and participates in art competitions at all levels. He teaches Khmer traditional art to more than 200 people who love Khmer traditional art in the locality... With his positive contributions, in 2019, Mr. Danh Be was awarded the title of Meritorious Artist by the President. In April 2024, he was awarded a certificate of merit by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism for his outstanding achievements in preserving, maintaining and promoting traditional cultural values ​​in the locality...

Join hands to preserve the soul of heritage

An Giang has many intangible cultural heritages, some of which are included in the list of national intangible cultural heritages such as: Ba Chua Xu Festival in Sam Mountain, Ky Yen Festival in Thoai Ngoc Hau Communal House, Bay Nui Bull Racing, Di Ke Performing Art in O Lam Commune, Cham Brocade Weaving in Chau Phong Commune, Nguyen Trung Truc Communal House Festival, Phu Quoc Traditional Fish Sauce Making Craft, etc.

Ba Chua Xu Temple on Sam Mountain at night. Photo: PHAM HIEU

In recent times, the province has implemented many solutions to preserve and promote cultural strengths and characteristics, especially promoting the value of traditional folk performing arts in the community; issuing many projects to preserve the unique values ​​of intangible cultural heritage; regulations on cultural heritage management and festival organization... In particular, the province pays special attention to artisans practicing intangible cultural heritage through preparing dossiers to propose conferring the title of artisan and implementing policies to support artisans in difficult circumstances. Regularly organizing basic and advanced training courses to promptly supplement the next generation; organizing festivals and competitions to create a playground for traditional folk performing arts.

Cultural experts believe that artisans play an important role in creating, transmitting and practicing heritage for the next generation. They are preserving, practicing and enhancing intangible cultural heritage every day. The activities of artisans not only contribute to protecting heritage but also help heritage come alive in life. However, to sustainably nurture heritage, experts note that there should be programs that link conservation and promotion of performing arts values, specifically: Coordinating with relics, tourist attractions, and festival organizers to periodically organize performances for tourists; coordinating with travel companies to open spiritual cultural tours, visiting relics, festivals, and traditional craft villages while enjoying local folk performing arts...

In particular, it is necessary to promote the role of the people in protecting heritage as active subjects, proactively participating in the process of preserving, maintaining and promoting heritage values. “Localities need to invest funds in traditional folk performing arts to restore famous works, contributing to preserving performing arts. Particularly for artisans, the community that benefits from preferential treatment and honor policies also needs to fulfill its responsibilities and obligations towards heritage, which is to constantly improve knowledge and skills; actively teach and disseminate knowledge and skills and always maintain standards when being considered for titles... With a close "handshake", we believe that the typical and unique cultural values ​​of the land and people of An Giang will become more and more unique and widespread”, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Thien - lecturer at Kien Giang University shared.

PHAM HIEU