PROJECT ON STUDIES OF ECONOMY, CULTURE AND SOCIETY OF THE BAHNAR PEOPLE IN MANG YANG DISTRICT, GIA LAI PROVINCE.

From 14 July 2009 to 14 August 2009, the Center for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies (CVSEAS) carried out the project on studies of economy, culture and society of the Bahnar people in Lo Pang and Kon Thup commune, Mang Yang District, Gia Lai Province, Vietnam.

Mang Yang District is the residence of many ethnic minorities; among them are Bahnar and Jarai, the live long ethnic minorities occupying the highest proportion of the population. In the process of implementing policies of the Party and the State for Rural Development in the Central Highlands in recent years, some programs such as 135 and 327 project, ADB project have positive influence on the economic development of ethnic minorities in Mang Yang District. However, if only economic development is taken noticed of, it will be hard to avoid the negative elements which do harm to its traditional society and culture.

Especially the trend of “Kinhization” in the cultural and social activities such as family activities, wedding; material cultural activities such as eating, living, dressing and spiritual culture such as rituals, festivals, arts, music of the Bahnar in Lơ Pang and Kon Thup commune has made the speed of change in values of traditional cultural and ethnic cultural identities growing deeper. Therefore, the study of traditional culture and its current transformation is have practically scientific significance and high reality in order to provide scientific basis for planning economic development projects in rural areas when ethnic minorities are living. To meet the actual situation mentioned above, the Project was conducted. In the framework of Project on Capacity Development of Participatory Agricultural and Rural Development for Poverty Reduction in the Central Highlands on Vietnam of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the project was conducted to serve the purpose of identifying culture and living method of Lo Pang and Kon villagers a deeper way. From aspects of history, economics, culture, society, through understanding, analyzing the current situation to determine the need and potential for development of villagers in Lo Pang and Kon Thup villages and establish a scientific basis for economic development - sustainable society in the region.

The project participated Japan International Cooperation Agency – JICA (Ms. Haraguchi Yuko), CVSEAS (Thanh Phan, Ph.D.; Tran Dinh Lam, Ph.D.), the University of Agriculture, HCMC (Le Vinh Hai Ha, Ph.D.), the University of Tay Nguyen (Hwen Nie K’Dam, M.A.), the Center for Cham Culture in Ninh Thuan Province (Truong Van Mon, M.A.), University of Tokyo (Shine Toshihiko, Ph.D.), the University of Dalat (Mr. Le Dinh Ba). The project was checked and taken over in Gia Lai and it was also highly appreaciated by People’s Committee and Department of Culture and Information of Gia Lai Province.

Link about Ms. Haraguchi Yuko - Coordinator of this project

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