He Survived the Khmer Rouge and Built a Musical Legacy

Kong Nay, a blind Cambodian lute player, emerged from the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979) to become a cultural icon, preserving and revitalizing the traditional Cambodian art of chapei dang veng. Despite enduring unimaginable hardship, including near execution, Kong Nay dedicated his life to teaching younger generations and sharing Cambodia’s musical heritage with the world. His story is one of resilience, artistry, and an unwavering commitment to cultural preservation. This article explores Kong Nay’s journey, his contributions to Cambodian music, and the lasting impact of his legacy.

The Khmer Rouge: A Dark Chapter in Cambodian History

The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, enforcing a brutal regime that aimed to create an agrarian utopia. This period, often referred to as the Cambodian Genocide, resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2 million people—nearly a quarter of the population—through starvation, forced labor, and execution. The regime targeted intellectuals, artists, and anyone with Western influences, viewing them as threats to their ideology. Traditional arts, including music, were suppressed, and an estimated 90% of Cambodia’s musicians perished.

Kong Nay, born in 1944, was among the few artists who survived. Blinded at age four due to a childhood illness, he learned to play the chapei dang veng, a long-necked, two-stringed lute, from his uncle. His disability and musical talent initially spared him from the hardest labor during the Khmer Rouge regime, but he was forced to play propaganda anthems glorifying the regime. In a harrowing moment, Khmer Rouge soldiers took him to the woods, intending to kill him, but he was saved by the Vietnamese invasion in 1979, which ousted the regime.

The Chapei Dang Veng: A Voice of Cambodian Culture

The chapei dang veng is a traditional Cambodian instrument known for its soulful, resonant sound. Often accompanied by improvised ballads, it has been a cornerstone of Khmer musical heritage for centuries. Musicians like Kong Nay use the chapei to tell stories, convey moral lessons, and comment on social issues through witty and poignant lyrics. During the Khmer Rouge era, such cultural expressions were banned, and instruments were destroyed or confiscated. Kong Nay’s survival, along with his chapei, was a rare triumph against the regime’s efforts to erase Cambodia’s cultural identity.

After the fall of the Khmer Rouge, Kong Nay returned to his hometown, where he played at weddings and ceremonies. In the early 1990s, he moved to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, where his reputation grew. His plaintive voice and skillful playing captivated audiences, earning him the nickname “the Ray Charles of Cambodia” for his ability to evoke deep emotion despite his blindness.

Rebuilding a Musical Legacy

Kong Nay’s post-Khmer Rouge career was marked by his dedication to preserving the chapei dang veng tradition. He taught dozens of students, including Pich Sarath, who now leads a chapei group, and collaborated with organizations like Cambodian Living Arts to train young musicians. His efforts helped revive an art form nearly lost to the genocide. One of his notable students, Savy Ouch, performed alongside him on the 2007 album Mekong Delta Blues, blending traditional chapei with contemporary influences.

In 2021, Kong Nay collaborated with Cambodian rapper VannDa on the song “Time to Rise,” a powerful celebration of Khmer heritage. The music video, which opens with Kong Nay playing haunting notes in Cambodia’s national museum, has garnered over 130 million views on YouTube. This collaboration introduced the chapei to a new generation, bridging traditional and modern Cambodian music. VannDa paid tribute to Kong Nay at the 2024 Paris Olympics, performing “Time to Rise” shortly after the master’s death at age 80 in 2024.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Kong Nay’s influence extends beyond his performances. Young musicians like Soeung Chetra, a 16-year-old high school student, have been inspired by his work. Although Chetra never studied directly with Kong Nay, he learned by watching YouTube videos and covering songs like “Dancing in a Circle,” which explores themes of romance and longing. With over 100,000 TikTok followers, Chetra represents the new wave of chapei players carrying forward Kong Nay’s legacy.

Organizations like Cambodian Living Arts have played a crucial role in this revival, supporting master musicians like Kong Nay to teach and perform. These efforts have helped reintroduce traditional Khmer music to a population where 60% are under 30 and may know little about the genocide or the cultural losses it caused. By mentoring students and performing internationally, Kong Nay ensured that the chapei dang veng remained a living tradition, not a relic of the past.

The Broader Context of Cultural Revival

The Khmer Rouge’s attempt to eradicate Cambodian arts left a profound void. After 1979, surviving artists faced the challenge of rebuilding with diminished skills and lost archives. The Royal University of Fine Arts and NGOs like Cambodian Living Arts have worked to rediscover and disseminate Khmer performance traditions, many of which trace back to the Angkor period (802–1431 CE). Kong Nay’s contributions were integral to this revival, as he embodied the resilience of Cambodia’s cultural spirit.

His songs, often laced with social commentary or moral lessons, resonated with audiences. For example, his lullaby for a lover, with lyrics about living in a modest hut yet finding joy in companionship, captured the simplicity and strength of the Cambodian spirit. By performing at home and abroad, Kong Nay brought global attention to Khmer music, earning recognition as a cultural ambassador.

Challenges and Triumphs

Kong Nay’s journey was not without challenges. As a blind musician in a post-genocide society, he faced economic hardship and the daunting task of reviving a suppressed art form. Yet, his determination and charisma made him a role model. His wife, Tat Chan, supported him throughout his career, and together they raised 11 children. His move to Phnom Penh in the 1990s marked a turning point, as his performances gained wider recognition, including features in international media like The Guardian and NPR.

The broader challenge of cultural preservation in Cambodia persists. The Khmer Rouge’s destruction of records, instruments, and artists left gaps in the musical archive. While some songs survived through cassette tapes and diaspora communities, many were lost forever. Kong Nay’s work, alongside efforts like the documentary Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll, has helped piece together this fragmented history.

Conclusion

Kong Nay’s life is a testament to the power of music to heal, preserve, and inspire. Surviving the Khmer Rouge’s brutality, he not only kept the chapei dang veng alive but also made it relevant for modern audiences. Through teaching, performing, and collaborating with artists like VannDa, he ensured that Cambodia’s musical heritage would endure. His legacy lives on in students like Soeung Chetra and Pich Sarath, who continue to play the chapei and share its stories. Kong Nay’s story reminds us that even in the darkest times, art can be a beacon of hope and identity.

References

1. The New York Times. (2025). He Survived the Khmer Rouge and Built a Musical Legacy.

(https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/04/arts/music/kong-nay-cambodia-khmer-rouge.html)

2. NPR. (2007). In Cambodia, Preserving a Musical Tradition.

(https://www.npr.org/2007/05/14/10141048/in-cambodia-preserving-a-musical-tradition)

3. The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Music and Culture. (2019). Cambodia and the Khmer People.

(https://sk.sagepub.com/ency/edvol/embed/the-sage-international-encyclopedia-of-music-and-culture/chpt/cambodia-the-khmer-people-modern-contemporary-performance)

4. Vandaluna Media. (2017). Musicians Who Survived the Khmer Rouge.

(https://mariabakkalapulo.com/2017/06/14/musicians-who-survived-the-khmer-rouge/)