Taipei, Aug. 18 (CNA) An annual Hakka pop music contest that began accepting entries Tuesday is aimed at giving exposure to talented Hakka artists while promoting appreciation of the language and boosting the confidence of the people who speak it, organizers said.
Entries for the "2020 Hakka Pop Music Competition," which offers total prize money of NT$850,000 (US$28,897), can be submitted until Oct. 21, and a shortlist of finalists will be announced on Nov. 13, the Hakka Affairs Council said in a statement.
The finalists will then compete in the final round on Dec. 19 in Taipei, the Hakka Affairs Council said.
The Hakka language is one of Taiwan's native languages, but it is not "admired" as are some foreign languages, such as Korean, said Hakka Affairs Council chief Yiong Con-ziin at a press conference in Taipei.
The Korean language continues to gain popularity worldwide because of its pop music culture, television shows and dramas.
"I think the reason (why Hakka is not as popular) is because right after the war (Chinese Civil War), the government suppressed local culture (in Taiwan), which led the people to lack confidence in their languages," Yiong said.
Despite that, there are still many talented Hakka musicians in Taiwan, and the Hakka Affairs Council has been trying to use that pool of talent to change people's perception of Hakka music and its culture, Yiong said.
Though Hakkas make up less than 20 percent of Taiwan's population, and the percentage of those who can speak the language is even lower, Yiong said he was confident it can be accepted by many music lovers.
"Music is an art form that can transcend ethnicity, language, and culture," Yiong said.
The desire to promote Hakka pop music and nurture Hakka musical talent led to the creation of the music contest last year, and out of 95 entries, 21 contestants and groups advanced to the final round, with rock band Siàu-lú khah-lah clinching the top prize.
The mission of the Hakka Affairs Council is to uphold the promotion and research of the Hakka language and culture, according to the council's website.
