Rohingya Music Online Library
Rohingya Music – For a Bride to Visit The Groom Part 1
This music would accompany a Rohingya bride as she travels through town to her new home with her husband’s family. Tapping on a mandolin represents hitting a drum, as would traditionally be used. Music would also traditionally accompany the wedding reception.
In Myanmar, these celebrations and their music could last from 9pm until 4am or 5am! Now the government’s refugee camp authorities require them to finish earlier. Views on music among Rohingya are diverse. About 20% do not participate in any secular musical activities. On the other hand, music is so important that some Rohingya will not consider a marriage to be valid without music during the wedding.
Rohingya Music – For a Bride to Visit The Groom Part 2
This music would accompany a Rohingya bride as she travels through town to her new home with her husband’s family. Tapping on a mandolin represents hitting a drum, as would traditionally be used.
Music would also traditionally accompany the wedding reception. In Myanmar, these celebrations and their music could last from 9pm until 4am or 5am! Rohingya music is used for important ceremonies and life events. This music would help celebrate a wedding, but Rohingya music could also accompany coming of age ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, at farewell parties as a tribute to departing friends, at ear piercings to reassure anxious women and girls, or for picnics and parties.
In Myanmar (Burma), music took place at large public performances which might also include dancers, but those aren’t possible now because there’s not a large enough gathering space in the camps.
O My Lifelong Friend, Don t Stay Hiding (Zindigi Fuwajja) – Rohingya Music
The song Zindigi Fuwajja expresses “O my lifelong friend, don’t stay hiding!”
The Feeling of Love (Roshor Firiti) – Rohingya Music
Roshor Firiti (“About the Feeling of Love”) is a romantic song about a couple. One partner calls the other to come closer, saying, “ The door is open. You are welcome in my heart.”
Memories of Arakan (Kanay Felai Ailam Arakan Oray) – Rohingya Music
Kanay Felai Ailam Arakan Oray (“Memories of Arakan,” or “How We Left Arakan”) expresses “In Arakan, we [Rohingya] grew vegetables in our gardens and crops on our farms. But now we’ve lost our ability to farm. O how we miss our life in Arakan.”
Thanda Thanda Boiyar – Rohingya Music
Thanda Thanda Boiyar is a song about missing a far-away loved one: “My love, my heart is calling you.”
Osman Wedding Song – Rohingya Music
This is an example of a Rohingya wedding song, sharing prayers for the couple’s well-being. It is an original song by Liyakat Ali, who is singing, with lyrics by the Rohingya writer Anowar.
Liyakat is demonstrating how the the song is personalized for the new couple. He sings congratulations to Osman as if he’s the groom.
At the three minute mark in the video, you can see Osman, the musician on the far left, point to himself, smile, and give a thumbs up. In reality, Osman is already married!
The Valley of Our Parents (Mar Kimot) – Rohingya Music
Yousuof, a Rohingya musician, wrote this beautiful and heart-wrenching tribute to his mother, who passed away three months ago. He also honors the memory of his colleague Osman’s father, who passed away when Osman was young.
When Yousef lost his mother, he conceived of his loss as a great valley: the valley of the mother. He wrote the song to let others know to respect, honor, appreciate, and take care of their mothers while they’re still present and they still can.
Wedding Farewell Song – Rohingya Music
Music played a large role in most Rohingya weddings in Myanmar (Burma). The musicians would play and sing musical greetings, perform educational songs, perhaps perform with dancers, and then perform a farewell song.
Here Rohingya musician Tahir, sings an example of a farewell song. The lyrics, which might be sung as late as 4am or 5am, say, “It’s time to go now. It’s nearly time for our morning prayers. Forgive us for any mistakes we made in the words we sang. Stay safe. Do well for humankind.”
Rohingya Musicians Playing A Song – Rohingya Music
Although these Rohingya musicians may have lived far from one another in the Arakan region of their home country of Myanmar (Burma), they now live much closer.
Still, travel can be difficult between the different camp zones, even when going to perform at official functions, because officials who give travel permissions do not necessarily recognize them as musicians. The travel can also be difficult because of insecurity in the camps.
O Our Beloved Arakan, We Will Never Forget You – Rohingya Music
O Adoror Arakan Lay, Ara Nobullom Toray (“O Our Beloved Arakan, We Will Never Forget You”) expresses the love of the Rohingya ancestral land of Arakan, from where they were forced to leave by the Rohingya Genocide.
The song says, “We will never forget our Arakan. We will never forget our birthplace. The memories of Arakan the Rohingya must remember.
When we remember those memories, our heart cries. Our tears fall from our eyes to the ground. It is our great regret that we had to leave you. Now we need to stay in someone else’s land.”
The Promise of Marriage (Asha Didi Hodeem Rakiba Hontay Bia Goriba) – Rohingya Music
In Asha Didi Hodeem Rakiba Hontay Bia Goriba (“The Promise of Marriage”), a woman asks, “How many days will you keep giving me hope? When will you vow to be my groom? When will you marry me?”
Let’s Go Back to Arakan, with Preparations to Fight for Our Land – Rohingya Music
About Chal Chal Chal Rohingya Begun Arakanot Chal (“Let’s Go Back to Arakan, with Preparations to Fight for Our Land”) This is an original tarana by Osman.
Find more by Osman! “Arakan Rohingya Tarana” on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and X. Contact Osman at +8801950181300 or osmangonimusic@gmail.com
Let’s Raise Our Voices for Justice – Rohingya Music
About Azardir Abas Touli Rohingya Olay Hauto Zahn Shohid Gorilo Loway Arakan Lal Goilo (“Let’s Raise Our Voices for Justice.
Thousands of Our Rohingya Brothers and Sisters Were Killed in Bloodshed in Arakan) This is a tarana by Osman.
Find more byOsman! “Arakan Rohingya Tarana” on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and X. Contact Osman at +8801950181300 or osmangonimusic@gmail.com
Osman Teaches Tom “Oshem Rangum Nowjayore” – Rohingya Music
Osman here teaches Crossing Borders Music co-director Tom Clowes the notes to the Rohingya classic “O Sham Rangum Naw Zayore.”
Osman explains that there are different teaching styles among Rohingya musicians: some use a more traditional approach where, after learning the basics of playing an instrument, students memorize the songs their teachers share with them.
Osman uses a more academic approach that incorporates written materials like lyrics sheets. He also teaches his students the names of each musical pitch and has them learn scales and modes. Both approaches have been used very successfully in the community, and there is overlap between them.