Đúm singing of Thổ people and preservation and conservation in the present context

Abstract

Đúm singing is a cultural activity closely linked with the life of Thổ community, also known as Em ôi singing. Basically, similarly to many forms of folk music, Đúm singing is a form of exchanging love between men and women. In tradition, Đúm singing is widely spread in the communes of Như Xuân district, Thanh Hóa - where many Thổ people live and also where strong interference of Vietnamese - Thái - Mường cultures. This is also the locality where the author conducted the study and reflected in this article. The article will help to clarify the origins as well as the position of Đúm singing in life activities of Thổ people. Performing space of Đúm singing and its artistic value can also be seen through the lens of community, by which, the author have the general assessment of the current state of Đúm singing of Thổ people (Yên Lễ commune) and give some suggestions for preservation of this traditional cultural form.