PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
August 16, 2005
Learn about Hmong Multicultural Arts Education Website Promotes Awareness of
Hmong Folk Arts
SAINT PAUL, MN – Hmong Cultural Center’s Hmong Resource Center has added video clips of several additional
Hmong folk arts performances to its multicultural arts education website: learnabouthmong.com.
The new video performances include the following:
Tougeu Leepalao performs a Hmong marriage song - Thaum yuav mus ua tshoob niam txiv cob kaus rau ob tug mej
koob. This orally recited song is usually performed for the groom's family as the wedding party prepares to go with
the Mej Koobs (marriage facilitators) with the umbrella to the bride's home. The umbrella is used to signify protection
for the couple from evil spirits.
Tougeu Leepalao performs a Hmong funeral song - Cuas nyab cuas ntxhais. This orally recited funeral song is
usually performed at the home of the inlaws prior to the time that they depart to pay homage to the deceased at the
funeral home
Meng Vang plays the song "Pluas" on the Hmong Qeej instrument. This song is part of the traditional Hmong funeral
ceremony and is intended to help lead the spirit of the deceased to the afterworld
Txong Pao Lee, Executive Director of Hmong Cultural Center noted that traditional Hmong folk artists often have
trouble finding recognition and consequently funding support in the mainstream arts community for their work. Lee
notes that the problem is particularly magnified for performing artists who recite songs associated with ceremonial
rituals. This is partly due to the fact that Hmong ceremonial arts such as funeral and marriage songs are orally
recited in the Hmong language and not English. Lee states that the overriding goal with the Learn about Hmong
website is to use high quality video clips to increase the accessibility of the various Hmong folk art forms to a wider
audience while also providing a forum to promote the acknowledgement of the skills and artistic ability of a range of
traditional Hmong folk artists in the arts community.
Other highlights of the Learn about Hmong website include video clips and educational information about the
important Hmong folk arts forms including the Hmong Qeej, Ncas, Two-String Violin and flute instruments, and
traditional Hmong tapestry. The work of several Minnesota and Wisconsin-based Hmong folk artists is featured on
the website including Wangsue Lee (Two-String Violin and Ncas), Tougeu Leepalao (Qeej and marriage and funeral
songs), Meng Vang (Qeej), Ga Long Thao (Qeej), Kor Xiong (Tapestry) and Ger Xiong (Qeej, Plooj Leaflet, and
Flute).
LearnaboutHmong.org/com is a new and unique multimedia website intended to advance public knowledge about
the Hmong folk arts and promote multicultural education about the Hmong people. LearnaboutHmong.com has been
made possible by seed grants from the 3M/COMPAS Award for Innovation in the Arts Program and the Asian Pacific
Endowment of the Saint Paul Foundation.