Cambodia & Culture: Famed khmer musician Kong Nay passed away at the age of 80

Kong Samay, son of Kong Nay, announced this afternoon that Mr. Kong had sadly passed away at his home in Doung village in Kampot province.

Kong Nay. Photo CG

Kong Nay’s body has been kept for a traditional ceremony in Kampong Trach district, Kampot province, and his death was due to illness.

Kong Nay was born on 15 March 1944, in Kampot Province, Cambodia. He was a renowned musician known for playing the traditional long-necked fretted plucked lute called chapei dang veng.

Kong Nay is commonly referred to as Master Kong Nay and was a master of the chrieng chapei genre (Khmer: ច្រៀង​ចាប៉ី), in which a solo vocalist performs semi-improvised topical material within traditional epics self-accompanied with the chapei.

He was one of the few great masters to have survived the Khmer Rouge era, and was known as the “Ray Charles of Cambodia”.

Master Kong Nay's journey into the world of music has been as humble as the villages that dot the Cambodian landscape. He grew up in a time of turmoil and upheaval, and found solace in the strings of the chapey, a traditional long-necked Cambodian guitar. These strings became more than an instrument; they were a refuge from chaos, a channel for his emotions and the foundation of a musical legacy.

Master Kong Nay's choice of the chapey dong veng was deliberate. It was not just an instrument but a vessel that carries the weight of Cambodia's history and culture.

The dark days of the Khmer Rouge regime had a profound impact on Cambodia, and Master Kong Nay's music was not exempt from this. The regime sought to eliminate cultural and creative activities, viewing them as a threat to its ideology. Master Kong Nay, in his role as a custodian of Cambodia's musical heritage, continued to perform, thereby maintaining a cultural lifeline that proved vital in the nation's healing process. His courage during this period transformed him from a musician into a symbol of resistance.

Kong Nay was not merely a musician; he was also the custodian of Cambodia's musical heritage. As he aged, he continued to play an active role in the preservation of Cambodia's musical heritage. He was actively engaged in transferring his knowledge to the younger generation, thereby ensuring the continued resonance of the enchanting tunes of chapey dong veng. In doing so, he reinforced his position as a performer and guardian of Cambodian cultural identity.

Master Kong Nay's talents have attracted attention beyond Cambodia's borders. His performances at the international level have earned him recognition as a cultural ambassador, showcasing the resilience and beauty of Cambodian art.

Master Kong Nay's contributions to Cambodian culture have been acknowledged with a number of prestigious awards. In 2007, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen bestowed upon him the Golden Grand Cross of Cambodia's Cultural Reputation, in recognition of his role as guardian of culture and ambassador of Cambodia's musical heritage. In 2017, Kong Nay received the highest international recognition when he was awarded the Arts and Culture Prize at the renowned Fukuoka Awards. This accolade further emphasised the significance of Cambodian musical traditions on the global stage.