A prosperous life
According to the minority ethnic group’s patriarches at Phu Giao district, Nung ethnic people arrived at Phu Giao district one year century ago. Most of them are from the Northern province of Cao Bang. Initially, the district had only about 10 Nung ethnic households. Realizing advantages at the locality, the “vanguards” took their relatives to this land for a permanent living.
With experiences of growing rice, they applied their experiences on this new land. However, they faced many obstacles of bad weather. To improve this status, they actively fertilized and watered to increase capacity. However, cultivation land became exhausted, so they changed to plant manioc.
In 2002, they enjoyed trainings on planting cashew under the guidance of the district Center for Agricultural Promotion and Farmers Society. With stable prices of cashew nut and high capacity, Nung ethnic people in the district enjoyed a prosperous life. However, till 2007, they encountered difficulties of strong decrease of cashew price and pests. After that, the district Center for Agricultural Promotion instructed the ethnic people to grow rubber trees, creating a more prosperous life. At present, the entire district has no poor Nung ethnic households.
In the end of 2003, the national electricity grid was brought to all Nung ethnic households.
Vy Van Thay, said “Under care of the Party and State and local preferential policies, we have enjoyed a stable life. Thanks to a prosperous life, our children’s knowledge has been improved significantly”.
Keeping cultural identities
Living in the district over 30 years, Nung ethnic people herein have kept their distinctive cultural identities. They always remind their children to preserve cultural identities from clothes to language, songs, dances and many more. In addition, they have encouraged their children to talk together by Nung language.
Hoang Thi Kinh tells about the national cultural identities with Tan
Hiep commune cadre.
The traditional clothing of the Nung people for both sexes comprises a plain indigo vest and trousers often decorated with a coloured belt and won with a black turban covered by a white or coloured scarf.
Possibly speaking, the most highlighted character of Nung people’s culture is Sili lyrics. The Nung people are very musical, which carries over into their sli songs. These songs are sung to celebrate weddings, the spring festival, and the dedication of new houses. The lyrics of sli cover every aspect of life including weather, nature, history and relationships. The sli songs are especially popular among young men and women who traditionally sing them as a way to get to know one another, win a date with someone who has caught one’s eye, or propose marriage.
The sli songs are sung both by groups of young people and by couples, and they are sung all over. Men and women take turns singing melodies that they have either learned or composed themselves. Sli songs typically have three parts: first young men and women greet each other, then share their emotions, and finally bid farewell and wish each other well.
Nung ethnic group’s Tet holiday is nearly like Kinh group. Long Thi Van told “We welcome New Year thoroughly. Aside from square glutinous cakes placed on altar, we offer khao and tro cakes”.
Vu Hai Ly, chairman of Tan Hiep commune People’s Committee said that owing to living in the same region with other ethnic minority groups, Nung ethnic people in Tan Hiep commune have received more cultural identities of other ethnic groups, so their cultural identities are forgotten partly. Therefore, local authority has encouraged patriarchies to teach cultural identities to young generations, contributing to preserve the traditional cultural identities.
In order to preserve and uphold the traditional cultural identities of ethnic minority groups at Phu Giao district, the district division of Culture and Information has held many cultural exchanges with neighboring provinces and cities. Additionally, the locality has organized many festivals to maintain cultural identities.
It is hoped that through cooperation between local authorities and Nung ethnic people, the lost values will be found out.
Reported by T.Ly, D.Tuan – Translated by A.C
