Guardian of a vanishing song

In the small, picturesque village of Xiaohuangcun, nestled deep in the heart of the Dong ethnic region of Congjiang county, Guizhou province, an ancient tradition still resonates.

The dongzu dage, or Grand Song of the Dong people, continues to echo through the voice of one remarkable woman: Pan Sayinhua.

At 82 years old, she remains one of the last great bearers of this living tradition. A national-level inheritor of the dongzu dage, she has spent her entire life singing, teaching, and preserving the music that defines the identity of her people.