Back to Archive
Video

Mashem Kensü Ken

Details

Singer / Performer

Padma Shri Guru Sangyusang Pongen

Tribe

Ao

Performer’s Tribe

Ao

Language / Dialect

Ao (Poetic Chungli)

Region / Village

NA

Date & Place of Recording

24 February 2025, Ungma village, Mokokchung

Recorded By

L. D. Miller Pou

Theme of the Song

Love Song

Occasion of Performance

Not usually sung on a social occasion (a soliloquy song)

Contextual Interpreter

Yimkotong S Aier

Lyric Transliteration

Naro jenkisü nüwa nüklalarang

koda jenlako, naroangse zunümati

tonglong maku naro jenaogoni, yongmen

yushinepla teyarüla mejentsülini,

Tsüngsa remjangni isung tonglong naro aong

tepenyala, ana mengoyubo mejensangbang

molung tamaru

English Translation Lyrics

Flower becomes old

but my childhood girl-mate

never becomes old (always beautiful)

Your voice is soothing like the brass (a brass instrumental sound)

I will never leave you

Do not marry anyone

I will also leave my betrothed lover

Let’s keep this promise hidden between us

Contextual Interpretation

This is a song sung to cheer and comfort oneself when walking to the field alone. It is a song of reminiscence sung by a male.

Native Speaker's Additional Contextual Information

Narobo jena oadoker Flower old went saka kü lanua züngatsür but my childhood girl-mate kodanga jena makümer never old become Nü ola ya yonmenyien ama tajung Your voice brasslike good Ni na kodanga metoktsütsü I you never leave Na tangar agi keyi-i tuo You other take marriage don’t go Ni ah tangar noklalar toktsüti Me even other lover will-leave Ana O züngtepbaya mimshia yuti We word promise-this hide keep