Traditional Chapey Makes UNESCO List

KHMER TIMES
PECH SOTHEARY

These men play the chapey at the Cambodian Living Arts headquarters. KT/Mai Vireak

The art form chapey dong veng was has been certified by UNESCO as part of Cambodia’s intangible cultural heritage .

The UN body agreed to provide more than $230,000 to support its protection and potential resurgence as an art form.

At a UNESCO Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Wednesday, it was agreed to put the chapey dong veng on the list after two previous applications for the art to be recognized had been rejected.

The chapey is an instrument with two to four strings used for traditional music, and when combined with poems in Khmer, becomes the chapey dong veng art form.

In their own announcement of UNESCO’s decision, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said: “Our intangible cultural heritage contributes to the country’s reputation and will be well known internationally as the others in the World Heritage Forum.”

The ministry called on the public to continue supporting and preserving the nation’s traditional arts, adding that many of the Kingdom’s ancient art forms were falling by the wayside as globalization gains more of a foothold in the country. Prime Minister Hun Sen lauded the decision on his own Facebook page and thanked UNESCO for providing funding for the chapey to be taught to a new generation of players.

“This is a success and a pride for all of us. Thanks to the teachers, professors and officials from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts who have worked hard to take care of the country’s heritage in the chapey dong veng,” he wrote.

Culture Ministry spokesman Thai Norak Satya said the ministry sent in its latest application to UNESCO in March 2015, imploring it to add the art to the list because many chapey masters – of which there are only an estimated 20 left in the country – were aging or dying.

The ministry, he said, will be able to use the money provided by UNESCO to create workshops and classes on the chapey as well as provide theater space to those seeking to learn or perform the art. The funds will also allow them to hold concerts and increase awareness of the chapey dong veng among young people.

“We want the masses, especially the young generation, to be interested in the chapey dong veng and contribute to its succession. However, the sharing or building of new people in the field of the intangible cultural art of the chapey dong veng is not easy because they are alone as a musician, an artist and also a writer,” Mr. Norak Satya said.

“So if they want to know how to sing and create a poem, they have to get knowledge, know many Khmer words, know the culture and have general knowledge which can be used to create a song with the chapey.”

According to the Culture Ministry, Cambodia has been able to put a number of classical dances and traditional constructions on the list, including Preah Vihear Temple and Angkor Wat. The ministry is hoping to put more traditional arts on the list, including Arek music and others which are at risk of dying with their last advocates and masters.

Kong Nay, one of the country’s most famous chapey players and a renowned chapey dong veng teacher, expressed his excitement and happiness about its placement on UNESCO’s list.

“The chapey has never been put on any world heritage list, only the Lakhon Sbaek or Preah Vihear. But now, I heard that the chapey is also on the list, and I am very happy,” the 70-year-old musician said.

“I want it to be taken care of forever and for the new generation, please take care of your national cultural heritage.”