Tetseo Sisters are a quartet of four sisters from the North-Eastern state of India, Nagaland. They are devoted to the art and tradition of the vocal folk music of the state.
Life and career
The Tetseo Sisters Mütsevelü (Mercy), Azine (Azi), Kuvelü (Kuku) and Alüne (Lulu) live in Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, and belong to the Chakhesang Naga tribe, one of the major Naga tribes. They sing in Chokri, the dialect of the region around Phek. From early days, their parents acquainted the girls with Li, the traditional songs of their home region. They first performed as a group in 1994 and have been making regular appearances since 2000 at the Hornbill festival, Nagaland’s biggest annual cultural event and several other festivals and events. Growing popularity made them enlarge their radius, performing all over Nagaland, the Seven Sister States, and other Indian states. During Mercy and Azi’s period of study, they made appearances as a duo in New Delhi; while Kuku and Lulu carried on in Kohima. The sisters are regularly invited to show their art on the occasion of official promotions as Nagaland’s cultural ambassadors/representatives both at home and abroad. Some notable appearances include- the North East Trade Opportunities Summit in Bangkok, Thailand in 2008 and again the Handshake Concert in Bangkok in 2012; Queen Baton’s Rally for the Commonwealth Games 2010 at Touphema, Nagaland and HRH Prince Andrew’s visit to Kohima commemorating the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II on May 1, 2012.
In 2013 Tetseo Sisters were a part of the video „My vote makes my future“, with Alobo Naga and other artistes, sponsored by the Election Commission of India to promote voting for the Nagaland Assembly to younger voters.
In 2011, the Tetseos released their debut album titled “Li Chapter One : The Beginning“ at the Hornbill Festival.
Li
The Chakhesangs have a huge repertoire of folk songs that have been compiled into a traditional songbook, Li kukre kutiko, that consists of 223 songs. Most of the other songs have been handed down through oral tradition (much like any other Naga tribe) from generation to generation in the villages of the region. There are Li for special events, love songs, children’s songs, laments, war songs and songs that are related to agriculture and its seasonal activities. The repetitive “Ho-he-ho“-“hiyo-hiyohey” choirs are shared between separate groups, either ad lib or echoing one another. Achieving their complexity is thus strengthening the group awareness.
The Tetseo Sisters make use of that rich treasure of handed downs songs. These songs are sometimes accompanied by the one-stringed instrument tati or heka libuh (mithun horn) which they play.
Personal life
Mercy Tetseo earned a university degree in Psychology from the University of Delhi. Azi Tetseo is married and is mother to a boy. She is a former Miss Nagaland runner up and earned a university degree in Political Sciences from the University of Delhi. She does modelling, sings in other formations and is also involved in the fashion industry with her husband. Kuku Tetseo studied at University of Delhi’s Lady Shri Ram College for Women and continues her studies in Kohima. Lulu Tetseo is the youngest of the four sisters and finished school recently.[From:wikipedia]
The readers can also go to their official site Tetseo Sisters and know more detail.
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