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Disco Dance, Yath Sheher Gaamus, Tsyeh Koni Mandchaanai Chuk!
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
The folks at Funkar would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has submitted such encouraging feedback on our CD Maenzraath. Many people have commented that they feel that the Kashmiri language is endangered and in need of protection. At times, it certainly does feel that this beautiful language, which connects us to our l iterary past and perhaps which holds the key to our artistic future, is bordering on extinction. This feeling becomes more pronounced when some of us expats travel to Kashmir, ony to discover that our nieces and nephews, who have never left Srinagar, feel inhibited speaking in Kashmiri, preferring to communicate instead in Urdu. When we watch television in Kashmir, we can find quality programming in Hindi/Urdu, English, and even Arabic and Farsi, but the Kashmiri productions, while they make do with the best available to them, are clearly underfunded.So that some of us do not lose heart completely, we would like to share this clip with you of schoolboys in Kopwore (Kupwara) singing a light-hearted comic number, called "Disco Dance, Yath Sheher Gaamus, Tsyeh Koni Mandchaan Chuk" ("Disco dancing in every city and village, why aren't you ashamed of yourself?"). If you speak Kashmiri, you will understand the message that underpins the song. We have also included another video of young Kashmiri girls singing a song about their teacher and schoolwork. Even if you don't speak Kashmiri, you can appreciate how much fun these kids are having, singing in their native language and making those around them laugh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXEpf5bAhg0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA6RmqgrFs8
posted by Funkar International at 1:12 PM
Welcome!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Welcome to Funkar's new home on the web!
Please look around, learn about our organization, listen to some samples of our latest recording: Maenzraath - Kashmiri Wedding Songs, and if you like what you hear, buy a copy via our website using PayPal!
We are very excited about Maenzraath, which includes a variety of folk music, ranging devotional naat to lighthearted love songs to chakr. Also included are several couplets of vanvun, traditional Kashmiri poetry that women recite at weddings. Please listen to audio samples, see pictures of the recording session, and browse through the CD booklet. Here's a little peek at the cover, which was taken from Kashmiri nikkahnamah written in 1941.
Before we sign off, we would like to thank Harriet Spear for her brilliant work on the CD booklet and cover design, and Sabih Mir for putting together this lovely website. We would also like to thank our many individual donors who have made this new recording a possibility.
If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, requests, please contact us. We would love to hear from you.
