An epic mission

Vietnam’s M’Nong ethnic group boasts a long-standing tradition of writings, songs and folklore. Now on the brink of extinction, one man is making it his mission to save these precious epics.

The M'Nong epics, or Ot Ndrong, reflect the ancient minorities' thoughts and interpretations of all aspects of the world as recorded in their nearly obsolete language.

Sadly, these rich gems of folk-art now face extinction as the last of the elders pass away and younger generations become increasingly more preoccupied with modern, westernized culture.

Folk artisan, Dieu Kau, lives in M'Rang Village, Dak Nong Province and has spent nearly half a century absorbed in a world of M'Nong epics.

Kau is so passionate about pre-serving the ancient cultural heritage that many refer to him as the M'Nong epics “savior.”

To date, Kau has obtained 20 epic collections totaling 20,000 pages.

He has also collected and composed over 15,000 pages of other folklore such as songs, proverbs and customary laws; a M'Nong-Vietnamese dictionary; and M'Nong educational texts to maintain and develop M'Nong cultural and moral values.

His epic collections such as Con chau me Chep (Mother Carp's Offspring); and Truyen co M’Nong (M'Nong Folk Tales) simply yet effectively explain natural and social phenomena while giving moral advice according to early M'Nong's world views and outlooks.

Kau has indeed ensconced himself in M'Nong language and culture.

He works for continuing education schools, language research institutes and culture departments in Dak Nong and Dak Lak highland provinces.

The fervent craftsman also knows many M'Nong songs by heart and owns several old gong sets.

Kau is so passionate about his work he often forgets to eat and sleep.

The artisan composes his epic collections from several sources including raw epic recordings delivered to him by research institutes, companies and individuals.

The work can be taking at times as he has to listen to each recording attentively, grapple to understand it fully, and then organize it into a coherent final product.

M'Nong written language is complex and Kau must employ several other languages to success-fully translate including: Vietnamese, E De, Kh'mer, some X'Tieng ethic groups' languages and even French.

Kau is driven by his genuine zeal for the folk arts, and not by any monetary aspirations.

For each 90-minute tape recording that he listens to, Kau earns around VND900,000 (US$56).

He usually spends a month converting one tape into a text, so in essence, Kau earns a mere VND30,000 ($2) a day for this work – about the same income as a worker picking coffee beans in the highland provinces.

Having mastered the M'Nong language, Kau now works in collaboration with the language broadcasting program, Voice of Vietnam (VOV) in Buon Ma Thuot City of Dak Lak Province.

He is thereby able to communicate news, events and other information to M'Nong speaking minorities like the Kinh, E De, J'rai or Xe Dang people.

With such impressive contributions to the preservation of Central Highland cultural values, The Folk Art Society of Vietnam awarded Kau a certificate of honor.

Kau's ambition to maintain the M'Nong epics after he passes away is also driven by his daughter, Thi Mai and his grandchild, Plon.

He also has two younger brothers, Dieu K'lit and Dieu K'lung who he hopes will succeed him in passing on knowledge of the early M'Nong.

His family also takes part in recording M'Nong epics and translating them into Vietnamese.

Kau looks sad and anxious at the thought of two 90-year-old M'Nong elders in Dak R'lap Village, who still remember many M'Nong customary laws and traditions.

At their advanced age, they could soon pass away without warning.

When they're gone, Kau will have no other sources to learn from as these ancient laws were only passed orally through the generations.

Knowing that at the age of 72, Kau too could pass at any time, he decided to hold classes to teach M'Nong epics to young people hoping to instill the same passion for the epics in his protégés.

But sadly, Kau realized that the youth of today are no longer interested in learning about a distant cultural past.

He feels that young people today are more interested in Western pop culture and technology instead.

Many wonder if Kau's efforts and aspirations in maintaining M'Nong epics and folklore will be maintained and appreciated in the future.

Many young people today are more enchanted with modern, westernized culture and seem to be moving away from traditional, cultural values.

But Kau remains persistent and hopeful that through his efforts, the beauty and intricacy of the M'Nong epics will remain vibrant for years to come.

Source : Thanh nien