Kong Nay was born March 15, 1944 in Kampot, Cambodia. With his trademark dark glasses, he is Cambodia’s most recognizable traditional musician. He is always in demand for Cambodian cultural events and is regularly appearing on Cambodian television.
Blinded by smallpox at the age of four, Kong Nay began his studies on the chapei dang weng lute at thirteen. Chapei, named afte the musical instrument, is a traditional form of improvised song-making that is often compared to American Delta Blues.
Coming from a musical family, Kong Nay grew up around relatives who were masters of traditional instruments, copying religious manuscripts, Buddhist chanting, poetry and the chapei dang weng. In his youth, Kong Nay often faced ridicule from his peers for his disability. Rather than being disempowered by their prejudice, however, Kong Nay sought to find a vocation that would bring him independence and respect. The chapei, whose sound had excited him from childhood, turned out to be the perfect instrument. Within two years of beginning his studies, at the age of fifteen Kong Nay began to perform professionally. His reputation grew quickly, and he soon earned the nickname Kung “Handsome” Nay.
Kong Nay, while still sometimes performing classical poems like those by Phirum Ngoy, is best known from his incredible gift for improvisation, a prized skill he acquired after studying poetry for nearly two decades.
During the Khmer Rouge genocide, Kong Nay, like so many other Cambodians, was forced to work for long hours with little food. Unlike most of his fellow musicians, however, Kong Nay was unbelievably spared from the regime’s attempts to wipe out intellectuals and artists.
In 2007 he received the Gold Grand Cross of Cambodia Cultural Reputation by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
In 2017 Kong Nay received the Arts and Culture Prize of the prestigious Fukuoka Prize.
Discography:
A Cambodian Bard (INEDIT/Maison des Cultures du Monde, 2006)
Mekong Delta Blues (Long Tale Recordings, 2007), with Ouch Savvy
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
