The dinh tut flute of the Ede people
VOV.VN - In the forests and mountains of the Central Highlands, above the sound of the wind and streams, travelers may sometimes hear the sound of a dinh tut flute, the traditional instrument of the Ede people. The ding tut is considered the voice of their cultural heritage.
Crafting a good dinh tut flute requires carefully selecting the right type of bamboo to produce a warm, resonant tone. A ding tut comprises five or six bamboo tubes of different sizes, each corresponding to the sound of the knah gong, the sacred gong of the Ede.
Artisan Y-Dŭ Êban of Dak Lak province said, “The dinh tut has been part of Ede culture since ancient times. It’s made by cutting a piece of bamboo with one node left intact. The ding tut is played at funerals and during buffalo and cow offering ceremonies. It’s also blown in the fields during rest breaks to ease fatigue after long hours of work.”
In the past, only women played the dinh tut. While resting in the fields, they would blow a few soft notes, letting their feelings drift away with the wind.
At a traditional funeral, Ede women sit around the deceased, holding a dinh tut upright with its mouthpiece touching their lower lips. The dinh tut's sound is like a lullaby, gentle as a stream, flowing through one’s grief, bidding farewell to the deceased and consoling the living.
Artisan Y-Dăk Niê of Dak Lak province said, “Besides funerals, the dinh tut was also played during the Kpan procession, one of the Ede’s sacred rituals. Whether at joyful or sad events, in any setting, only women were allowed to play the dinh tut.”
Today, men can also play the dinh tut, but the image of a woman blowing the instrument, producing sounds as soft as incense smoke, is the enduring symbol of the connection between music and spirituality.
Artisan Y-Djưng Êban said, “I really love the sound of the dinh tut. It’s beautiful and captivating. A skilled player can make really enchanting melodies. In the past, Ede women played the đing tŭt by placing their lips near the mouthpiece and blowing. Now most people play it by holding the bamboo tube directly in their mouth, which makes it easier.”
The dinh tut is not as resounding as a gong. It softly touches the heart like the voice of an Ede woman confiding her soul.
Parent-child bonding ceremony of the Ede
VOV.VN - The parent-child bonding rite is an age-old custom of the Ede ethnic minority in the Central Highlands that embodies the spirit of unity and fosters solidarity among different families and clans.
