Culture

Gia Lai hands over 16 gong sets to ethnic minority villages to safeguard cultural heritage

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Authorities in Gia Lai province on April 3 handed over 16 sets of traditional gongs to art troupes in ethnic minority villages, in a move aimed at preserving the Central Highlands’ UNESCO-recognised gong culture.
Ms. Lê Thị Thu Hương, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai Province, presents gongs to local art troupes. Photo: Bá Bính

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism distributed the instruments at Pleiku Museum under Project 6 of the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for 2025.

The gong sets were allocated to 16 hamlets and villages across multiple communes, including Ia Khươl, Chư Prông, Ia Tôr, Ia Dom, Ia Dreh, Lơ Pang, Đak Rong, Ia Grai, Ia Ko, Al Bá, Ya Hội, Chư A Thai, Kông Bờ La and Đak Sơmei. Each community received a set tailored to its cultural traditions.

Representatives of the hamlets and villages receive gongs and gifts. Photo: Bá Bính

Recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Central Highlands gong culture holds deep spiritual and social significance among ethnic groups in the region.

Officials said the handover goes beyond material support, placing responsibility on local communities to preserve, teach and promote the tradition, particularly among younger generations.

Artisans inspect the gongs. Photo: Bá Bính

The initiative is expected to strengthen grassroots cultural activities, enabling regular gong performances and helping sustain the cultural identity of Gia Lai’s ethnic communities.

On the same occasion, Gia Khang Production and Trading Co., Ltd. donated 16 gift packages to recipient villages, including cash, essential goods and gong baskets to support the preservation and use of the instruments.

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