'The Cicada of February' Performed by the Dong Women of Huanggang Village in Guizhou, China

Why It Matters

Preserving the Grand Song protects a unique intangible heritage threatened by urban migration, while raising global awareness can spur cultural tourism and funding for safeguarding efforts.

Key Takeaways

• Grand Song recognized as UNESCO intangible heritage
• Huanggang Village dates back 800 years
• Women lead preservation through daily practice
• Globalization draws youth away, threatening tradition
• National Geographic Traveller features song in April 2026 issue

Pulse Analysis

The Dong Grand Song, a complex polyphonic chant, is more than music; it is a living archive of the community’s history, myths, and agricultural rituals. Because the Dong language lacks a written script, these songs have been transmitted orally for centuries, embedding social values and collective memory in each performance. Scholars note that such oral traditions are especially vulnerable when younger generations pursue modern education and employment in urban centers, creating a gap in cultural continuity.

In Huanggang Village, women serve as the primary custodians of this heritage, rehearsing the Grand Song during daily chores and communal gatherings. Their dedication not only sustains the melodic structures but also reinforces gendered roles in cultural transmission, a pattern observed across many minority groups in China. By integrating the song into a multidisciplinary photo story, photographer Aisha Nazar amplifies its visibility, positioning the performance within a broader narrative of cultural resilience and artistic expression.

The exposure in National Geographic Traveller’s April 2026 issue brings international attention, potentially attracting cultural tourism and funding for preservation initiatives. Such media coverage can encourage policy makers to support intangible heritage programs, while also offering economic incentives for the village. As global audiences engage with the Cicada of February, the interplay between tradition and modernity may inspire new models for safeguarding endangered art forms without compromising their authenticity.

Original Description

High up in the mountain valleys of Guizhou is Huanggang Village, an 800-year-old wooden settlement where the Dong people have long lived their lives via epic songs. The Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group, a polyphonic choral tradition central to Dong culture, faces a fragile future. With no written language, these songs have always carried the people’s histories, traditions and life’s ethos. As globalisation draws the younger generation away, this oral tradition risks fading but the women of the village, whose fierce dedication is sewn deep into daily life, keep these songs alive for the next generation.

Watch the Dong women of Huanggang Village in Guizhou, China perform a Grand Song called The Cicada of February.

This song is filmed as part of a multidisciplinary photo story by photographer and associate picture editor Aisha Nazar, for the April 2026 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine.

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