“My name is Eeoow"

The second meeting of the lectures and film-screenings on indigenous peoples of Northeast India will take place on the 10th of October at 18 00 in Estonian National Museum, Hurda hall.

UT professor Ülo Valk will give a presentation on North-East India's indigenous peoples. There will also be a premiere of the ethnographic film "My name is Eeoow" (director Oinam Doren).  After the film is screened, there will be a chance to have a phone conversation with director Oinam Doren and ask questions. Free Entrance!

Names constitute the stable identity of an individual throughout differing circumstances in life. Names personify us. But what happens when a name is sung, not spoken; hummed not articulated? In Khongthong village in remote Northeast India, names have magical protective qualities and are sung or whistled. Known as the jingrwai iawbei, or the song of the ancestress, the melody is bestowed upon a baby by his/her mother during infancy. This film explores the musical name tradition among the Khasis in Khatar Shnong (12 Villages) in East Khasi hills and follows the journey of two women whose children go to the highly urbanised capital city of Shillong to pursue their studies. The movement from a traditional setting to an urban setting is illustrated when the archaic sung name comes into contact with new lifestyles characterised by modernity.

The lectures and film-screenings on indigenous peoples of Northeast India at the Estonian National Museum are aimed at introducing and exploring the indigenous cultures of Northeast India which is made up of 8 states and has a population of about 45 million. There are about 214 different indigenous communities with as many languages, cultural practices and religions. This set of events is made of films, discussions, storytelling, and other media. We hope that through this series, minority groups in India will have a chance to be represented and showcased in Estonia. The events are organised in cooperation with the Department of Estonian and Comparative Folklore and the Estonian National Museum.