The drum-throwing and drum-stabbing performance is a unique folk art of the Muong ethnic group in Phu Yen. Photo: Truong Son

Mo Muong and Moi Festival amidst the Phu Hoa cultural space

Phu Yen is an area with a large Muong ethnic minority population, accounting for 43% of the total population, concentrated in the communes of Muong Coi, Gia Phu, Muong Bang, Tan Phong, and Phu Yen. This is the land of ancient Muong villages, where Muong culture is preserved intact through spiritual rituals.traditional festivaland community life.

Mo Muong and Moi festivals are typical spiritual values, reflecting the material life and containing the knowledge and beliefs of the Muong people through many generations.

In May 2023, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized the Mo Muong social customs and beliefs as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Mo Muong is a system of singing and chanting associated with life cycle rituals such as weddings, funerals, and housewarming ceremonies. Each shaman is a "living treasure," both an artist and a teacher of moral principles, customs, and beliefs to the community.

To become a shaman, first and foremost, there must be someone in the family who has previously been a shaman and passed the profession down to their descendants. In addition, the chosen shaman must possess integrity, virtue, uphold the family traditions and customs, and be knowledgeable about the customs, traditions, and rituals of the Muong people.

Mr. Ha Van Trung, from Lan village, Muong Bang commune, a second-generation shaman in his family, shared: "Muong shamanism is not just a ritual, but a bridge between people and their ancestors. As long as there are people who know shamanism and sing Dang songs, the Muong village will still have its soul."

The Mợi Festival takes place at the beginning of spring and includes a solemn ceremony to worship ancestors and deities, praying for a bountiful harvest, and a festive part with folk dances, games, throwing the "con" (a type of ball), pounding rice cakes, playing the bamboo flute, and singing Dang Muong songs. The lively sounds of gongs and drums, the rhythmic drumming, and the resonant Dang Muong songs create a vibrant and solemn picture of community life.

Ms. Trieu Thi Phai, in charge of the Dang Muong Club in Muong Coi commune, said: “The club currently has 45 members, ranging in age from 10 to over 60. The members work together to collect, arrange, and perform ancient folk songs. Festivals such as Lunar New Year, the Moi Festival, and the Khai Ha Festival are opportunities for the people to use songs and melodies to recreate the life, work, and joys of the Muong people.”

Musical instruments and performing arts - repositories of the Muong culture's cultural essence.

Folk music plays a shaping role in the spiritual life of the Muong people in Phu Yen. Characteristic musical instruments such as gongs, wooden drums, and drums are not only present in traditional rituals but also create a vibrant community space, connecting generations in the Muong villages.

The gong set consists of 12 gongs: the dam gong, the bong gong, and the tlé gong. During performances, the dam gong opens the show, followed by the other gongs, creating a harmonious, mystical sound. The gongs are used in Mợi ceremonies, weddings, and rice planting ceremonies, symbolizing reunion and prosperity.

The Muong ethnic cultural space in Phu Yen. Photo: Truong Son

The duong is a unique musical instrument, and the duong pounding performance is a distinctive folk art, often performed during Tet (Vietnamese New Year), harvest festivals, housewarming ceremonies, funerals, and weddings. The duong is made from the hollowed-out trunk of a sang tree, sấu tree, or vàng tâm tree, combined with a long stick measuring 1.5-2.5 meters. The player creates sound by pounding and striking the instrument, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, according to the rhythm, vividly reflecting the life of the Muong people and calling upon the spirits to pray for a bountiful harvest.

Ms. Dinh Thi Mien, from Thai village, Muong Coi commune, who has been a member of the traditional drum-beating team for over 40 years, shared: "The resounding sound of the drums makes the villagers believe even more that the harvest will be bountiful and life will be peaceful. Traditional musical instruments are the soul of Muong culture, indispensable in all festivals and ceremonies."

The communes of Phù Yên currently maintain more than 40 traditional drum-beating teams, with approximately 200 members receiving training annually, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of this unique art form. The musical instruments and art forms have been adapted to suit modern life, helping Muong folk music remain vibrant and accessible to the public.

Preserving the cultural heritage of the Muong ethnic group through community solidarity.

The survival of Muong culture in Phu Yen depends on the awareness and responsibility of the community. The communes have coordinated to restore festivals, collect documents, open classes to teach Muong shamanism, establish Muong Dang Clubs, gong and drum teams, and drum-beating teams.

The people of the villages of Muong Coi, Muong Bang, Tan Phong, and Gia Phu practice the Dang Muong dance and learn the songs, drums, gongs, and drums. Children are taught by the elders everything from songs and dance movements to religious beliefs, contributing to the creation of a cultural connection between generations.

Mr. Phan Ngoc Linh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Muong Coi commune, emphasized: "Preserving Muong culture must rely on the community. The State provides support, but the people are the main actors. When the people are proud of their culture, the heritage is preserved naturally and sustainably."

Thanks to this unity, the Mợi festival maintains its original form, the drum-beating team and the Dang Muong Club operate continuously, and traditional musical instruments are refined and preserved. Muong culture is not just a memory but a vibrant force, contributing to the development of tourism and socio-economic life in Phu Yen.

The sounds of gongs, drums, and Dang Muong songs blend with the rhythm of life in the mountains, forests, and fields, becoming the soul of the Muong village, reminding us of our origins, uniting the community, and igniting national pride amidst the modern life in the culturally rich land of Phu Hoa.