Musician-PhD Scholar Amabel Susngi Is Preserving Folk Music Of Khasi-Jaintia Hills

In the world of folk music, where century-old tales harmonise with a mosaic of melodies, Meghalaya’s Amabel Susngi stands as a luminous figure. She is a singer and music researcher passionate about taking the rich heritage of the Khasi-Jaintia community to the big stage. She is the lead singer of the four-member folk band, Mookhuri, which recently captivated the audience at Amarrass Nights, an ethnic extravaganza presented by Village Square. Under the starlit canopy at Sunder Nursery in Delhi, Mookhuri showcased a fascinating folk performance that broke all cultural barriers.

SheThePeople interacted with Amabel Susngi before the concert when she narrated her journey as a singer with a vision to preserve and promote the narratives of her culture. She also described why folk music is relevant in modern times and how it is an essential part of connecting communities and fostering a sense of identity in an increasingly globalized world. 

Musical Beginnings

Amabel Susngi was born in Meghalaya's Jiantia Hills, where her parents instilled a fascination for folk music in her at a young age. "I was inspired by my grandmother who used to sing me lullabies when I was sleeping; and my parents who used to sing and teach me folk songs when I was a kid. When my parents saw that I had the potential to learn instruments and sing, they enrolled me on a music course. When I grew up, I decided to make a career in music," she narrated.

Having earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in music, Susngi has since transitioned into a role as a music educator and a dedicated PhD scholar focusing on the preservation of folk music. With three other passionate artists like herself (Johny Melborn Syih, Hamieh Phawa, and Deimonlangki M. Kharbuki), Mookhuri was born, celebrating the vibrant tapestry of folk traditions deeply embedded in their roots. 

The term 'Mookhuri' embodies this very love for traditions. According to Susngi, it refers to a three-stoned cooking stove found in most kitchens in Meghalaya and it is believed that Khasi tribal music begins from the hearth where the stones are placed. The Shillong-based band creates magic using traditional instruments like Susngi's manjira, Syih on the four-string duitara, Phawa on the kabom and Kharbuki with the ksing shynrang. 

Why Folk Music

Susngi fervently described why she is enamoured with folk music, detailing how it plays a significant role in passing down the historical tales of the Meghalayan tribal world. 

"I just want everyone to know that music practice, or traditional cultures very important, because that's where we come from. Folk music helps us be informed about our cultural practices because sometimes due to the Western influence, we tend to forget our own unique, authentic culture. So I want to spread the importance of our languages, our mother tongues, and lifestyle through folk music," Susngi described.

She also shared how the youth and the digital era can be essential parts of the efforts to preserve these cultures. She said, "In the digital era, documentation of folk music has become much easier with the help of studios and social media. We always say the youth are the future of tomorrow. They can take our folk music to bigger platforms. The perfect example is me, here (at Amarrass Nights), where I can preserve my culture by taking it to a wider crowd."

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Speaking of how events like Amarrass Nights have been significant to Mookhuri's vision, Susngi described, "First of all, I would like to thank Village Square for bringing us here. I think it's a great platform because we are getting recognised by so many people here, including the media. I feel it's a great opportunity to create a platform where we can spread our message of preserving culture and interact with like-minded artists."