During the summer months when schools are out, Ninh Thuan Province organise many special events to teach local children about the Ma La gong, as well as other Raglai traditional instruments.
Despite the summer heat, students at Phuoc Ha Secondary School are at school to learn how to play Ma La Gong and "ken bau". The students seem to catch on very quickly, because most of them are from theRaglai ethnic group, and they have grown up listening to the sound of this unique instrument.
Although this poor rural area lacks funding for certain school facilities, Phuoc Ha secondary school has provided a playground for their students, where they can learn about Raglai traditional instruments. This special playground has attracted the support of both students and local artists, who hope to preserve their hometown’s traditional instruments.
From watching their elders play the Ma La gong during festivals, the students can now play this traditional instrument themselves and preserve this Raglai cultural trait. Playgrounds like this are dotted throughout local schools and homes within the community.
According to folklore researchers, in addition to being a musical instrument for daily social activities, the Ma La Gong also acts as a means of connecting people with their gods. Simply by continuing playing this instrument, a part of the Raglai ethnic identity will be passed on to future generations.
