03 • Out There Somewhere • Maanasi Josephina Baa 

An interaction with Maansi Josephine Baa, a young creative Oraon musician, currently based in Goa, offers a glimpse into her unique journey of exploring and expressing her experiences through music. Far from her native place, she channels her feelings of wonderment and discovery into her musical compositions, blending the traditional sounds of her heritage with the eclectic influences of her surroundings in Goa. This fusion results in a rich tapestry of melodies that reflect her personal growth and cultural exploration. The session will delve into her creative process, discussing how distance from her roots has influenced her music and provided a fresh perspective on her cultural identity. The interaction will also explore the themes of home, displacement, and belonging, as expressed in her songs, and how she uses music as a means to connect with both her past and present. The conversation will conclude with reflections on the challenges and rewards of being an artist in a new cultural environment, and the universal language of music as a tool for storytelling and expression.

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writer & musician
Goa

The Oraon people, a Dravidian-speaking ethnolinguistic group of the Chhotanagpur Plateau, traditionally relied on forests and farms for rituals and livelihoods, but have transitioned to settled agriculture in recent times. They possess a rich cultural heritage of folk songs, dances, and tales, along with traditional musical instruments like the Mandar, Nagara, and Kartal. Both men and women participate in dances, performed at social events and festivals, including war dances, Karma dance, Khaddi or Sarhul dance, and various ceremonial dances known as "Dandi" in Kurukh.

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