Mo Muong on journey to becoming intangible cultural heritage of humanity: Part 3

Mo Muong on journey to becoming intangible cultural heritage of humanity: Part 3 - Motivation for Mo Muong to "take off"

5/30/2024 - 2:31:58 PM

In an effort to preserve and promote the unique cultural values of Mo Muong, the northern province of Hoa Binh is charting a course to compile a scientific dossier seeking UNESCO recognition for Mo Muong as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Artisan Bui Van Rum from Rom Co hamlet, Thuong Coc commune, Lac Son district, proudly joins the building of the national dossier for Mo Muong.

Despite effective measures by the province, Mo Muong cultural practices face numerous challenges as globalisation, especially its cultural aspects, has introduced strong foreign influences. This has resulted in the simplification of Mo songs used in funerals. Over the time, the number of Mo Muong artisans is dwindling, with many aging. According to the latest statistics from the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, there are 212 Mo Muong artisans in the locality, almost all of them old. Without timely training of a new generation, the situation will worsen.

To address these challenges and achieve UNESCO recognition, the Hoa Binh People's Committee has collaborated with the provinces of Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Son La, Thanh Hoa, and Dak Lak, and Hanoi city. This collaboration aims to develop a comprehensive national dossier for Mo Muong's inclusion in the UNESCO list.

Concrete steps have already been taken. A steering committee and a dedicated dossier preparation committee have been established in Hoa Binh. The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism partnered with the Vietnam National Academy of Music for a local seminar on Mo Muong. Additionally, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the provincial committee, organised domestic seminars and international conferences that attracted leading scholars, literature and art experts, and UNESCO intangible cultural heritage specialists.

The Institute of Music played a crucial role by collecting, audio recording, and filming Mo Muong cultural practices. They are also responsible for crafting scientific records and finalising documentary films on this unique heritage.

On March 29, the Government Office issued a document reflecting the Deputy Prime Minister's endorsement for submitting the "Mo Muong" dossier to UNESCO. This endorsement proposes the inclusion of Mo Muong intangible cultural heritage practices from Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Son La, and Dak Lak, and Hanoi City in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Bringing art to remote areas - promoting ethnic culture

Hoa Binh city - Vibrant community activities at cultural houses

Building a cultural conservation area for Muong ethnic group in Luy Ai hamlet

Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district of Hoa Binh province, is widely regarded as the cultural heartland of the Muong ethnic group. Among its many traditional communities, Luy Ai hamlet (formerly Ai hamlet) stands out as a rare location where the customs and way of life of the Muong Bi people remain largely intact.

Truong Kha temple festival celebrates Muong cultural heritage

The Truong Kha temple festival, a distinctive cultural event held every three years in Vu Ban township, Lac Son district, returned recently with vibrant rituals and folk traditions of the Muong people. Located next to the Buoi River in the Muong Trao fields, the Truong Kha Temple is dedicated to the three Kun Dol deities, revered for teaching farming techniques, irrigation, weaving, and protecting the harvest.

Hoa Binh city residents enjoy upgraded cultural houses

The demand for spaces serving community activities of residents in various areas across Hoa Binh city has been satisfied as local cultural houses now feature modern, spacious facilities thanks to the effective implementation of Resolution No. 49/NQ-HDND issued on December 28, 2021 by the city People's Council, which approved the plan for reorganising, converting, and allocating land for the construction, repair, and expansion of cultural houses in Hoa Binh’s villages and residential areas until 2025.

Enhancing cultural and spiritual life in remote and ethnic minority areas

At the end of May, the Hoa Binh Provincial Ethnic Arts Troupe organized a series of performances for residents in Region 2 and Region 3 communes across the province. Bringing art to ethnic communities in remote, isolated, and especially disadvantaged areas has become a meaningful activity. These are not merely artistic performances but also journeys to disseminate cultural values, enrich spiritual life, and contribute to preserving the cultural identity of ethnic minorities.