The Sli Singing Of The Nung People In Bac Kan – A National Intangible Cultural Heritage In The Vast Mountains Of Viet Bac.

Amidst the towering mountains of Bac Kan, there is an art form that has followed the Nung people through many generations. No need for a large stage or dazzling lights, just a hillside, a spring market, or a gathering in the village, the Sli songs rise up, simple yet poignant. And today, those melodies are no longer just a source of pride for the Nung people of Bac Kan but have been recognized in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The songs of love and life

If Then singing is the heartfelt message to the deities, then Sli singing is the heartfelt message to people. Sli is a traditional call-and-response singing form characteristic of the Nung people. The songs are often improvised on the spot, expressing love between couples, family feelings, friendships, love for the homeland, and life experiences. Singers can respond to each other for hours, even all day long without getting bored.

The uniqueness of Sli does not lie in the instruments or the performance stage but in the ability to improvise, the creativity of language, and the sensitivity in conveying emotions by the singers. Each Sli verse is like a musical conversation, where emotions are conveyed through each lyric.

A living heritage in the highland markets

For generations, Sli singing has been closely associated with the lives of the Nung people in Bac Kan. The singing resonates during spring festivals, weddings, traditional festivals, or highland markets.

Especially at the Spring Love Market (Na Ri), visitors can still encounter groups of Nung men and women passionately singing Sli in harmony by the Bac Sen river. No need for microphones or loudspeakers, the songs still echo through the mountains and forests, carrying the beauty of a culture that has existed for hundreds of years. It is not merely a form of entertainment but also a place for young people to meet and make friends, where the elderly pass on their language, customs, and cultural values to the next generation.

When Sli singing becomes a National Intangible Cultural Heritage

The recognition of Sli singing by the Nung people of Bac Kan in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage is an acknowledgment of the distinctive cultural values that the Nung community has preserved through many generations. Behind the seemingly simple songs lies a treasure trove of folklore, language, customs, and valuable indigenous knowledge.

Each Sli melody reflects how the Nung people perceive life, love, nature, and community relationships. That is why this art form is not only valuable to Bac Kan but also a cultural asset of the Vietnamese nation.

Preserving the songs amidst modern life

Like many other forms of folk culture, Sli singing is facing numerous challenges. Modern life brings many new forms of entertainment, leading to fewer young people dedicating time to learn and practice traditional melodies. Many artisans are aging while the younger generation is still quite thin.

However, in many localities of Bac Kan, Sli singing clubs are still being maintained. Passionate artisans tirelessly teach the younger generation, integrating Sli singing into community cultural activities, traditional festivals, and experiential tourism programs to help the heritage continue to spread.

The sounds of highland identity

Today, when visiting Bac Kan, tourists are not only drawn to Ba Be Lake, waterfalls, or pristine forests. Many also want to hear a Then song on the lake's surface or a Sli melody at the highland spring market. Because the beauty of a land lies not only in its landscape but also in the cultural values preserved over time.

The Sli singing of the Nung people in Bac Kan is indeed a part of that beauty. A heritage born from life, growing up with the community, and continuing to resonate amidst the mountains of Viet Bac as a reminder of origins, identity, and pride of the Nung people today.

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology has recently collaborated with Ba Be district (Bac Kan) to develop a model for preserving and promoting the art of Sli singing, Luon singing, Phong slu, and Then singing of the Tay ethnic group in Ha Hieu commune.

Accordingly, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology will conduct research, restoration, preservation, and promotion of the art of Luon singing, Phong slu, and Then singing of the Tay ethnic group in Ha Hieu commune. Organize teaching and practicing “The art of Sli singing, Luon singing, Phong slu, and Then singing of the Tay ethnic group for 50 artisans and Tay ethnic students in Ha Hieu commune.

In addition, the unit will also support equipment, materials, and supplies for practicing Sli singing, Luon singing, Phong slu, and Then singing; recording and producing documentary films about the process of organizing preservation and promotion of the art to serve the preservation and dissemination of traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities...

The activities of the model for preserving and promoting the art of Sli singing, Luon singing, Phong slu, and Then singing of the Tay ethnic group in Ha Hieu commune aim to enhance awareness of the preservation and promotion of the cultural identity of ethnic minorities. Strengthen national unity, especially among youth through activities such as: Cultural activities, teaching folk melodies, folk dances, teaching traditional crafts, and cultural rituals rich in the identity of each ethnic group. Create conditions for the community to interact and engage in healthy entertainment from traditional cultural values.