✿The Hmong Music Culture✿

Have you ever heard about the Hmong community? Over the last couple of years, I have been friends with people from this community. I have never heard of this ethnicity, so I appreciated when my friends would talk about their culture and even invite me to their New Year’s event at the Piedmont Fairgrounds. So, for this blog, I wanted to shed light over this underrated Asian community. To do that, I did both my own research and interviewed some of my close friends in this community.

Your first question may be, “Where are the Hmong people from?” The Hmong American Center states that they “...originally came from China...” The Hmong people were known as nomads, so they traveled to different places like Vietnam and Laos. They were also a part of the “Secret War” of Vietnam assisting the U.S.A. My friend in this community, Olivia Moua, told me that they are known as the “Mountain people.” Although the Hmong people have no one true country, they still have a very rich culture.

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There are several instruments unique to this community. One is the Qeej (pronounced "gheng”), which I find sounding similar to bag pipes. The Qeej is a flute made out of bamboo. Olivia Moua also informed me that since the language and music in the Hmong community is so tonal, those music sounds also translate to different words. So, the instrumentals themselves are also lyrics. 

The next instrument is the Xim Xaus. It is an instrument that I can best describe as like the Violin. It is a chordophone that is bowed. It may sound a bit eerie at first when listening to it, but it is distinguishable.

(skip to 0:29)

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Of course, this wouldn’t be a blog of mine without comparing the “old” and more modern songs in the community. The ballad type music sung and mainly preferred by the elders in the Hmong community is known as Kwv txhiaj. I’m amazed with how long they can hold onto belting some notes. The Hmong language is very tonal, and so is their music.

(skip to 0:27)

Now, if you know me, I am always finding songs to add to my playlist without having language as a barrier. So, when I asked my friend for more modern artists that the younger generations of the Hmong community would listen to, she did not disappoint. I am going to talk about several of these artists. 

First, let me introduce you to my favorite off of my list, Chenning Xiong. She linked me to this song of his and I thought it was the best thing ever. Although he does not use any traditional Hmong instruments, his music is still good. Though, Olivia told me that it is pretty evident to the people who speak the Hmong language, and even younger generations, that he mispronounces a lot of words.

This is also another song he made in dedication to his parents, which has a super cute music video. 

This music video is also very well known within the Hmong Community, and for good reason, too.

(skip to 1:03)

Give me a minute to talk about how amazing the female artists are in this community. This woman has great music and vocals. She speaks in her native language and incorporating it into EDM type of music.

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Lastly, I wanted to talk about the dances in this community. Mainly, the females are the ones dancing and conducting dance competitions. The traditional outfits for females are extremely gorgeous.

Although they look really pretty, they don't contribute to Hmong music. Native Americans have the jingle dresses that create sound, but the Hmong clothing doesn't serve that purpose. I have two dance videos I want to show. This first one leaves me in awe mainly because they are dancing in heels. 

This second group is South Carolina's very own Clover Girls!! I am personal friends with a couple of the girls in this video. I do want to say that their coordination is on point.

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I also interviewed a handful of friends about how they feel about their culture. I asked them why the music is important to them. To sum all of their responses up, music is important to them because it is one of the aspects that ties their families together and it shows cultural expression. I also asked them about fears for the future generations that they may have, and they told me that their language is slowly dying out and that they are scared, but know that at some point, that their culture and traditions will be forgotten in the US. Even though I am not a part of the community, hearing about how they do have these thoughts in the back of their heads gets me sad. I am Mexican and I showcase that off with every inch of confidence. I want to share my culture, food, and music with everyone. I too would be scared if I see my culture and traditions slowly erasing too.

The Hmong culture is very interesting to me. I would love to keep learning about their customs and music. I have a couple of fun facts that my friend Olivia has given me about the Hmong people:

Shamanism is practiced in the Hmong community, and during rituals, the Shaman would used the Qeej, bells, and shakers to talk to spirits or the dead. 

In marriage, a dowry of $10,000+ is payed to the parents of the bride. 

There are only 18 clan/family names in this community, which stated by Ethnomed are Chang, Chue, Cheng, Fang, Her, Hang, Khang, Kong, Kue, Lee, Lor, Moua, Pha, Thao, Vang, and Vue. 

WORKS CITED

“Hmong History.” Hmong American Center, https://www.hmongamericancenter.org/hmong-history/#:~:text=Who%20are%20the%20Hmong%3F,expansion%20by%20the%20Chinese%20government. 

“Hmong.” EthnoMed, https://ethnomed.org/culture/hmong/#:~:text=Hmong%20culture%20emphasizes%20relationships%20between,traditional%20ways%20are%20highly%20important.