MADISON, Wis. — For the first time ever, Madison College hosted a Hmong New Year celebration.
The celebration took place Saturday and was free to the public. The event held cultural dance performances, musicians and also invited Hmong owned vendors to sell foods and goods.
One of those musicians was rapper and songwriter Kevin Yang.
“I do it because it helps the younger generation tap into our culture and want to learn how to speak our language,” said Yang.
Yang is a Madison native and he said when he told his parents he wanted to be a rapper, they were not very excited.
“Asian parents, how do I say it… tough love,” Yang said.
Despite the lack of understanding, Yang felt that this was something he needed to do.
“I am just trying to keep the culture alive and of course, young kids nowadays don’t know how to speak Hmong much,” said Yang. “For me when I went to it, it was more of that route too, if they want to learn they are going to come back and listen to [my music] and learn it bit by bit."
Masaya Xoing, Community Engagement Coordinator at Madison College, said she decided to organize Saturday’s event for the same reasons that Yang raps.
“That is why we institutionalized this event was to allow this type of emersion and engagement,” said Xoing. “This is both a learning experience but it is also people meeting each other and greeting each other.”
Wisconsin is home to 58,000 Hmong people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and the largest Asian American ethnic group in the state.
Xoing was hoping to put on a new year event that could both honor all of those people and inspire others to come learn about her native culture.
“How can the institution be of support to the community and what are the ways in which we can further do to really engage with them,” said Xoing. “The New Years celebration is part of that to bring the community to us and also bring yourself into those spaces as well.”
Those interested in hearing Yang’s music can click here.