ECura is collaboratively working with ethnic minority populations from three villages in Southwest border of China. They are Yi people in Mayou, Bai people in Qifeng and Miao people in Xiaoshuijin. Each village community 1) sustains traditional music practices of a considerable scope; 2) has community leader who actively organize various cultural activities; and 3) has experience of working with external bodies offering resources and support.
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Mayou village, located in Yao’an County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, is predominantly inhabited by the Yi people, comprising 95% of its 2,223 residents. Known for its rich cultural heritage, Mayou is nestled among high mountains and is renowned for two nationally recognized Yi intangible cultural heritages: Meige, a comprehensive music tradition encompassing folk songs, dance, and oral literature, and Hulusheng, an ancient Asian free-reed mouth organ dating back about 2,500 years. [read more]
Qifeng village, located in Eryuan County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, has a population of 3,399, of whom are all Bai people. The village sustains various small community groups that practice various Bai music traditions on a daily basis. The villagers remain highly active in cultural practices, including religious rituals in the village temple, which accommodates three different religions (Daoism, Confucianism and Shamanism) and each religion has its own ritual music ensemble. [read more]
Xiaoshuijing village, located in Fumin County, Kunming city, Yunnan Province. Xiaoshuijing has a population of 469, of whom all are Miao people, 80% of them being Christians. There are several choirs in the villages. The Miao village has developed a new music tradition Miao hymn, a hybrid of Miao traditional music, language, dance and costumes with elements of Western choral practices. [read more]
Xiaohai Xin Village is located in Tangzi Street, Xundian Yi and Hui Autonomous County, Kunming City, Yunnan Province. Currently, the village consists of 77 households, all of whom are Miao people. The Miao people in this Village belong to the Da Hua Miao subgroup and speak the Northeastern Yunnan Miao dialect. In 2020, Xiaohai Xin Village was designated as a Featured Village of Ethnic Minorities in China, highlighting its unique cultural and linguistic heritage. [read more]