The Pa Ko people live in the high mountains and have a strong connection to the forests and hilltops.
They have developed a variety of musical instruments for different ceremonies, including worshiping the Jade Emperor, the New Rice ceremony, house-warming ceremonies, and new village establishment ceremonies.
Singing and music play a vital role in allowing the Pa Ko to express their feelings and communicate with the Heaven God. Drums and gongs are essential instruments used during festivals, symbolizing the Pa Ko people’s greetings and invitations to the genies to attend.
The Pa Ko have infused their songs and dances with life and perform call-and-response singing and dancing, known as “Cha Chap” in their language, at exciting community events.
Ho Van Xep, an artisan from Hong Kim commune in Thua Thien Hue province, has a deep knowledge of Pa Ko songs and believes that teaching the younger generation about their ancestors and traditions is best done through music. Collecting and preserving folk songs and dances is crucial for passing down the Pa Ko heritage.
The Pa Ko have a deep respect for nature and utilize materials from their surroundings to create their musical instruments. The buffalo horn holds significant importance, representing the power of the patriarch. Only senior villagers are granted the privilege of sounding the buffalo horns during important village ceremonies, such as grave exhumations.
In recent years, the Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri provinces’ authorities, where the majority of the Pa Ko people reside, have implemented programs to restore and promote the tangible and intangible cultural values of this ethnic group.
