Regional Classic Folks Music

Nagaland

Surrounding by the Assam in West, Myanmar in the East, Manipur in South, part of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in north, the state of Nagaland is an energetic hill state. This state is very famous for its traditional and rich cultural heritage.  This state of Nagaland is occupied by major 16 tribes and their sub tribes.  Every tribe of this state is differed in its dress, language, and custom characters.  This state of Nagaland is famous for legends going through the generations and the life here is a part itself of music.

Through the media of songs and folk tales, the tradition is still kept alive.  The stories of the incidents and ancestors were described through the songs narration that are basically romantic folk songs.  Some of the folk songs were seasonal that were sung on the particular occasion. There are different themes for different folk songs and music such as to immortalize the tragic love stories poetic love songs, songs that were eulogizing ancestors, and the deeds of traditional heroes and warriors etc.  Some of the tribes have natural music tradition that are lived in isolated corners of the state of Nagaland. In the state of Nagaland due to various communities of tribal, music very melodious and traditional.

The traditional music of Nagaland is very breathtaking.  There were few Zeliang folk songs that were named as Hekialeu, Neuleu, Hereileu, and Heliamleu.

The music of the Nagaland is more rhythmic in addition of the various instruments. Many stringed instruments were also used in the folk music of Nagaland just like Theku that is made of carved wood covered with animal skin, Angami Nagas, Chakhesangs, Asem, and Tati that is fiddle with single stringed, and last one Jemji that is type of horn made with horn of mithun. There were many instruments that were used by the people itself just like cup violins, trumpets, cattle skin drums, log drums, mouth organs, and bamboo flutes.  These tribes used these  musical instruments depending upon the customs available.