Adivasi musicians re-discover traditional music during pandemic

A community-driven initiative by local adivasi artisans around Karikiyoor in Kil Kotagiri, has resulted in a revival of local musical traditions, with the elders training the adivasi youth in producin

A community-driven initiative by local adivasi artisans around Karikiyoor in Kil Kotagiri, has resulted in a revival of local musical traditions, with the elders training the adivasi youth in producing and playing traditional instruments. The members of the community have started producing traditional wind and percussion instruments in a workshop constructed in the village of Aracode. Local community members said that the use of many of these instruments were disappearing due to an ongoing cultural upheaval among the communities themselves. Arjunan, a village elder who passes on knowledge of making instruments, baskets, cups, mugs and handicrafts to younger members of the Irula community, said that all items produced at the workshop were made sustainably using locally-sourced bamboo. “All Irula festivals and celebrations are marked by music played on traditional instruments. Unfortunately, due to younger members having to leave the village to work in nearby towns, this tradition is being lost, with not many instrument makers or musicians who know how to play them, left,” said Mr. Arjunan. Currently, more than ten kinds of wind and percussion instruments are being manufactured in Aracode by the community members.