In the heart of the Truong Son mountains, village elders of the Co Tu people quietly preserve their language, songs, script, and cultural practices - serving as the spiritual backbone of their communities amidst the rapid flow of modernization.
In Co Tu villages nestled along the western slopes of Da Nang, the sound of gongs still rings out during festivals, and afternoon kitchen smoke still curls above stilted homes. Though life shifts day by day, cultural values - rooted in language, customs, rituals, and communal living - are carefully preserved, thanks largely to the enduring efforts of respected village elders.
Pillars of spirit and tradition
In Prao village, Dong Giang commune (Da Nang City), elder Zo Ram Vui, now 72, is widely known as the “keeper of the script” of the Co Tu community. Small in stature with a calm, deep voice, his eyes light up with conviction when speaking about his mother tongue.
“As long as our language lives, the Co Tu people live. Lose the language, and we lose our roots,” he says.
Haunted by this thought, over a decade ago, elder Vui realized younger generations were increasingly unfamiliar with the Co Tu language. He began organizing informal "night classes" in his own home.
There were no blackboards or formal materials - only old notebooks filled with handwritten Co Tu characters written in Latin script. After a day working in the fields, from 8 to 10 p.m., young people and children would gather around a bamboo table to practice spelling and writing their names in their native tongue.
For elder Vui, teaching the script is not just about literacy - it is about identity. “It’s not to make them better than others, but so they know who they are,” he shares.
Beyond preserving language, he is also a steady advocate for progressive change, urging villagers to abandon harmful customs such as child marriage, incestuous unions, superstition, and domestic violence. When conflicts arise in the community, elder Vui is often called upon to mediate with gentle words and reasoned guidance.
“Being a village elder isn't about speaking well - it's about living in a way that earns people’s trust,” he reflects.
In the same spirit, elder Mac Van Min, 77, from Song Vang commune, is regarded as a “living archive” of Co Tu culture. While elder Vui protects the written language, elder Min preserves the oral tradition - songs, chants, and folk performance forms that are vanishing fast.
For many years, he traveled tirelessly between villages to collect traditional lý songs and chants. Each piece he learned was carefully transcribed and taught to young people during festivals and village gatherings.
“If we forget the songs, future generations won’t know how their ancestors lived,” he says.
In Tong Cooi village, where he lives, elder Min is also trusted to resolve land disputes and neighborhood conflicts. Guided by the Co Tu principle of honor and trust, his reputation for fairness helps maintain harmony in the community.
“You don’t always need laws to keep peace - just speak what’s right,” he says.
When the government proposed building a road through the village, elder Min was the first to donate land and went door to door convincing others to follow. Thanks to his leadership, over 30 households voluntarily contributed hundreds of meters of land to complete the project swiftly.
Keeping the cultural flame alive in modern times
In Dong Giang, cultural continuity is embodied by elder C’lau Nhim, now 78, a lifelong advocate for Co Tu rituals, arts, and architecture.
Having retired from a career in cinema in 1983, he returned to his village and became a community mediator and later, in 2018, was elected as a trusted elder.
Despite his age, he continues encouraging villagers to reject harmful traditions and embrace civilized living, acting as a vital bridge between the government and local residents. His most lasting legacy, however, is the preservation and revival of traditional culture.
“Culture doesn’t exist in books - it lives in the daily rhythm of village life,” he says.
With an artist’s soul, elder C’lau Nhim masters nearly every traditional Co Tu art form. A skilled sculptor, he won third prize in a 2019 wood carving contest with his piece Shooting the crossbow.
The Gươl house he designed serves not only as a communal meeting place but also as a cultural education space where children and youth learn about their ethnic roots and heritage.
“As long as there is a Gươl house and festivals, the Co Tu will have a place to remember where we come from,” he muses.
Three elders, one shared mission
Though their paths differ, all three village elders share a single purpose: preserving the Co Tu identity in today’s world. From language and songs to rituals and customs, they are not only cultural transmitters but also guardians of community values and cohesion.
Quietly and without fanfare, they keep the cultural rhythm of their villages alive - so that the gongs still echo, the songs still linger, and traditional values continue flowing through future generations.
Ha Nam
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
