Nong Fengmei – Representative Inheritor of Zhuang “Poya Love Song” Project in Funing County, Wenshan 

Cultural Inheritance

Nong Fengmei (农凤妹) serves as the lead vocalist during the Zhuang ethnic group’s traditional festival “Longduan Festival” and various events, passing down traditional cultural customs through mountain songs. She also leads the women in her village to embroider the symbols of the “Poya Love Song” on hand-woven cloth, integrating Zhuang mountain song culture with Zhuang brocade art, creating a unique cultural artifact.

Teaching Activities

Nong Fengmei teaches elementary school children in her village to sing the “Poya Love Song” and also entertains the village women with the song during the off-season. She takes every opportunity to teach children at schools, ensuring the cultural inheritance of this unique song.

Innovative Inheritance

Nong Fengmei uses the juice of cactus fruit and bamboo sticks to write the symbols of the “Poya Love Song” on self-made cloth. This unique method aids in the inheritance and protection of the song.

Important Performances and Activities

National-Level Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritor

In December 2012, Nong Fengmei was selected as the national-level inheritor of the “Poya Love Song” (坡芽情歌) project.

Domestic and International Performances

Nong Fengmei has been invited to perform, promote, and lecture in various cities across the country, including Beijing. In 2006, she was interviewed by Yunnan TV’s “Today’s Topic” program. In 2009, she was interviewed by CCTV’s “Exploration and Discovery” program, and her performance was broadcast in over ten countries and regions, including the US and UK.

Cultural Exchange

In February 2011, Nong Fengmei was invited to participate in an academic seminar at Tsinghua University in Beijing. In March 2011, she performed at the “Guarding the Homeland: Cultural Expressions—The Eco-Cultural Exhibition Week” organized by the People’s Liberation Army Opera House.

Poya Song Book Choir

In 2012, the Poya Song Book Choir was established in Funing County, with Nong Fengmei as the lead instructor and singer. In July 2016, the choir won the gold medal at the 9th World Choir Games in Sochi, Russia.

Through these activities, Nong Fengmei has not only preserved the “Poya Love Song” within her local community but has also promoted this unique cultural heritage on a larger stage, allowing the world to appreciate and understand the traditional culture of the Zhuang ethnic group.

Nong Fengmei’s Special Teaching Methods for Promoting “Poya Love Song”

Symbol Memory Method

Nong Fengmei learned the “Poya Love Song” from her grandmother and other elders, who taught her to draw the song’s symbols on the ground to aid memory. These symbols are closely linked with the lyrics and melody, and each symbol represents a corresponding song. She passed this traditional memory method on to her students, teaching them to use symbols to memorize the songs, making the learning process more intuitive and enjoyable.

Teaching Through Daily Life

Nong Fengmei uses every opportunity in daily life to teach the “Poya Love Song.” During busy farming seasons, she teaches the younger villagers to sing during breaks in the fields. This method not only allows learners to relax but also integrates the “Poya Love Song” into their daily routines.

Inheritance Center Teaching

At the Poya Inheritance Center, Nong Fengmei regularly teaches local children and young people to sing the “Poya Love Song.” In addition to vocal techniques, she also teaches the cultural background and historical significance of the song, fostering a deep interest and love for the heritage among the younger generation.

Combining Embroidery Art

Nong Fengmei leads the women in her village to embroider the symbols of the “Poya Love Song” on cloth, combining the Zhuang mountain song culture with the art of Zhuang brocade. This innovation not only enhances the visual appeal of the song’s symbols but also revitalizes traditional skills.

Multi-Platform Promotion and Teaching

Nong Fengmei has been invited to numerous performances, promotional events, and lectures at the county, state, provincial, and national levels. Through media interviews and television programs, she has showcased the charm of the “Poya Love Song” to a broader audience. These activities have not only increased the song’s visibility but also inspired more people to learn and inherit this cultural treasure.

Through these unique teaching methods, Nong Fengmei has not only ensured the wide inheritance of the “Poya Love Song” in her community but has also brought it to a broader stage, allowing the world to appreciate and enjoy this unique Zhuang culture.

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