Keeper of Thai people’s folk songs "soul"

Culture

Keeper of Thai people’s folk songs "soul"

Friday, December 2, 2022

Despite her old age, Meritorious Artisan Dieu Thi Xieng, a resident in Deu 1 hamlet of Nghia An commune, Nghia Lo town, is still applying herself to teaching folk songs and traditional “xoe” dances of the Thai ethnic group to young people.

Meritorious Artisan Dieu Thi Xieng

Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evening, her emotive singing voice resounds through the traditional stilt house of Thai people to teach the young. Xieng has maintained her patient and meticulous efforts to pass down folk songs and singing skills to small children, youngsters, and anyone who wishes to learn.

Initially, her class had only several people sharing the interest in the Thai ethnic songs. Thanks to Xieng’s steadfast efforts and the performances of Thai folk songs at school year opening ceremonies, celebrations, and festivals, many people, especially the young, have become attracted to and enrolled in the class.

Xieng said that at very young ages, she was surrounded by folk songs of her ethnic group, learned every line of lyrics, and sang along with her grandparents and parents. To her, singing folk songs is a way to uphold the mother tongue of the ethnic minority.

At present, the artisan not only collects old songs but also composes and performs new ones. In her handbook, there are hundreds of folk songs, from old ones to those with lyrics written by herself.

Aside from using her voice and performance skills to introduce Thai folk songs to other people, Xieng also has some plans to help preserve and pass down the tradition to the next generations.

As some young people are not interested in upholding or bringing into play their ethnic group’s unique cultural values, Xieng wishes to teach folk songs to them so as to inspire their love for and pride of traditional culture and help preserve the national identity, according to the artisan./.

YBO

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