In order to promote the mutual understanding of cultural diversity and creativity and to strengthen international academic discourse on living epic traditions, some representatives of epic singers and storytellers contributed their oral performances and traditional skills to the 2012 Summit at the invitation of the Organizing Committee. 

A Brief Introduction to our Invited Performers

Manaschi

  

Manbetale Alaman, born in 1941, is maybe one of the most active manaschi in today in Akchi county. His repertory includes the most traditional cantos of the first part, second part and fifth part of Manas-cycle, and also the other popular Kirghiz epics such as Qurmanbek, Qojojash, etc. He is very popular nowadays and frequently invited by the local government and by mass in all kinds of cultural activities and weddings to perform the epic and, he has been already in the list of representative national heritage figure of National Intangible Culture heritage.

  


Tibetan epic Gesar singer

  

Dawa Grags-ba is a Tibetan Gesar epic singer. He was born and grew up in 1974.in Moyong township of rdza-tod county in Yul shul TA P,Qinghai. He is known as “storyteller who performing never end” , who is classified academically as storyteller of text from inspiration(shen shou).He claims to be able to narrate 153 different story parts on Gesar epic by himself. Currently he is working for government at prefecture level as a professional storyteller. Till now, 26 volumes of his text were recorded, 10 of which has been published. He possesses a very extensive knowledge of the epic and unique features in either of language or story he narrates. He falls into a state of trance during course of performing. In 2007, he was applied to be a representative heritage figure of National Intangible Culture Heritage.

 

 Mongolian Geserchi

  

Uuganbaator was born in Baarin Banner, Inner Mongolia on April 13, 1971. His grandfather was a widely famed well known intellectual man named Alafenga who lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but after Alafenge, their household declined to ordinary herding man. Uuganbaator’s father died at an early age, and his mother raised the five siblings all on her own. Uuganbaator went to a local elementary school since he was 8, and herded the cattle after school. He was born with a good voice, and learned to sing many folk songs and play Huur (four-string musical instrument) at an early age. He is now a famed singer now, performing for the local folks quite often such as singing folk songs, Holboo and Huuren-Ulger. His improvised performances are very intriguing and exciting. He is the disciple of Geser master Jimbajamsu. Among his repertoires are nine cantos of Geser including Geser Descends in Human World, Geser Defeats Twelve-headed Manggus, Geser Defeats Black Spotted Tiger.

The title of his performance at the 2012 International Summit on Epic Studies is Geser Khan The Great King and Great Archer.

 

 


Mongolian Jangarchi

  

Dorjinima is a Mongolian Jangarchi who was born in Hobuksair County on October 31, 1988. He has been learning from and performing with his grandfather Zha Juunai, one of the greatest Jangarchis of last century. Dorjinima is the one among the relatives that inherited the epic master’s performing style and features, and has become the most outstanding Jangarchi among his peers. His repertoires include The Canto on Hongur’s Marriage, The Battle between Jangar and Khünd Gart Sabar, Hushuu Ulaan, Jangariin Magtaal (Eulogy of Jangar).

The title of his performance at the Summit is the Eulogy of Jangar, which is composed of eulogies on Jangar, Bombiin Orun, Jangar’s Khaton (Queen of Jangar), warriors, and Bilgiin Kheer ( Jangar’s high-speed horse).  

 


Singer of Epic King Yalu  from the Miao People

 

Chen Tianlun is a Miao from Ziyun, Guizhou province. He was born in a ritualist and singer's family in 1966. He started to learn hosting rituals in which the epic King Yalu was chanted when he was 12 years old. After 6 years, he started to host rituals independently. So far, he chanted the epic King Yalu more than 1500 times in rituals.