The vociferous voice of music
The vociferous voice of music
Indigenous week comes to an end with performance
Madol, a musical band, enthralled a packed audience at National Library Auditorium, Agargaon in the capital on August 14. Marking International Indigenous Day 2014, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum (BAF) organised the weeklong programmes that came to an end through an igniting performance.
Madol members set off the event with the number “Jago Jago Sorbohara”. Later, they performed songs of rebellion, protest and breaking the chain of exploitation. A boisterous young Adivasi audience clapped, screamed in melodic bliss and serenaded several numbers with the band members. The essence of the live performance was themed on “Ei Gaan Hok Bohu Asthahinotar Biporit-e Ek Gobhir Asthar Gaan”.
Madol artistes performed Bawm, Chakma and Mandi [of Garo community] songs at the event. They also presented their original songs including “Ami Adivasi”, “Ami Filistin (Palestine)”, “Karnafulir Kanna”, “Madol Bajey”, “Mukti Chai”, “Jhornar Chhondey” and “John Henry”.
Their music predominantly focused on themes of deprivation, exploitation, injustice, agony and struggle of mass people.
Madol was founded in December, 2009 at Rajshashi University as a cultural group with members from all adivasi communities across Bangladesh. Over the years, it has become a music band. The place of diversity of the band is that it included members of Chakma, Bawm, Mandi and Singh. The band comprises Sham Sagor Mankin (vocal), Jemson Amlai (lead guitar), Riton Chakma (rhythm guitar and backing vocal), Anthony Rema (drums), Sayon Mangsang (flute), Antar Sku (bass guitar) and Harendranath Singh (madol).
Guest artiste Sanjeeb Drong rendered three Bhupen Hazarika songs – “Pratidhwani Shuni”, “Sheetero Shishir Bhejano Raat-e” and Saheli Saheli”. Sanjeeb Drong, a writer-activist, swayed the audience with his inspirational and patriotic songs. Another guest artiste, Shyamabati Chakma Chaiti, also presented two songs at the event. One of her featured performances evoked nostalgia revolving around hilly landscape.
President of BAF, Jyotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma, veteran politician Pankaj Bhattacharya, Dhaka University teachers Robayet Ferdous and Shantanu Majumder, singer Kafil Ahmed and veteran guitarist-singer Maqsood, among others, attended the event.