It will be a colourful showcase of folk music and dance as Banyan Tree hosts its second edition of international folk heritage festival ‘Root Folkways’ in the city. With enchanting performances by different folk groups from across India and Senegal and Yakutia, Russia, the festival is an opportunity for the urban audience to appreciate the beauty of different folk forms.
Back to the roots
The Jambili band brings northeastern flavours with its unique folk fusion music. “Jambili is a totem or symbol that represents the major clan of Karbi community,” shares the band’s founding member Daniel Engty, adding Karbi is a hill community of Assam. The band, formed in 2007, celebrates the richness of nature and connects one to roots. “We perform two kinds of music; one is pure folk and the other is folk fusion,” he shares. “We take a lot from Karbi folk instrument and songs and fuse it with world music; from jazz to rock to any other genre,” he explains.
Most of the songs are based on the community, natureand harvest . “These folk songs are performed and practised in the communities; there are songs for every situation,” he shares.
Daniel jokes that every member does three jobs at a time, including singing. He plays the electric guitar and the Karbi folk instrument flute. Other members also play the two-stringed instrument, the traditional Karbi drums and percussion. Having performed in Hyderabad during the Rockscape festival in 2015, Jambili is visiting the city after three years. He is constantly working to popularise the music. “When people talk about Assam and its music, the first thing that come to mind is Bihu. It is a beautiful music but there is a lot more that is yet to be heard. Ours will be a new and fresh sound for many listeners. It is individualistic and one gets connected to one’s roots, from where we came from.”
Thrilling dollu play
Ravi Kumar and his team of nine artistes will perform ‘Dollu Kunitha’ from Shimoga in Karnataka. ‘Dollu Kunitha’ meaning playing the drums in Kannada is also the title of their folk performance’. ‘Dollu’ is a drum made of bamboo. “ Baaki ke drums mein aur ismein farak hai ; this is an old instrument that is made at home. Nowadays these are made of fibre too. But the beats and sounds coming out of the bamboo dollu is invigorating,” he states. The artistes use a thin goat skin as drum head for the effect. With dollus tied to their waist and ghungoroos on their anklets, the artistes form a pyramid, continuing to play even as they stand upon one another.
While eight artistes play dollu, one kanjira artiste adds to the beats. A musician and the troupe leader Ravi’s family has been playing dollu for generations. Like most villagers, he is into agriculture for livelihood. “Dollu attracts people of every age group.” he shares. Proof of their popularity is that the group has had performances across India for the past 20 years. “Recently we performed in Vijayawada as part of the Dasara celebrations.”
Energetic performance
Olena Uutai is on her first visit to India. “I hope to acquaint the people of India with the culture of my homeland Yakutia. I hope it will be a great show and will be followed by new performances. I know that a lot of my fans live in India and are looking forward to my concerts,” she shares.
The audience will get acquainted with one of the oldest cultural traditions, the trance and shamanic music from the very heart of Siberia. While Olena’s throaty vocals and Khomus playing is widely popular over the internet, she believes it doesn’t match the energy created during a live performance. “Although internet reduces the distance between people and countries, it rather poorly conveys the energy that is inherent in my performances. People will be able to witness my performance with all their hearts.”
Sharing the experience of participating in Britain’s Got Talent in May 2018, she states, “It was important for me to see how people in England work in this field. Of course, this is an English show so it is not surprising that the subjects of the queen win, and not guests from other countries.”
( The second edition of Root Folkways, Banyan Tree’s International Folk Heritage festival , will be held at Taramati Baradari on November 17 and 18; 4 pm to 9. 30 pm; Tickets: bookmyshow.com)
