When the Mountains Sing

The Nanwang Sisters — Samingad, Lavaus and Ihua — represent a highly symbolic generation in the development of Taiwan’s Indigenous music. They grew up during a time when society was still rife with prejudice against Indigenous identity, an era when many singers were forced to conceal their Indigenous background or were cast by the mainstream market as “mountain singers.” Yet the Nanwang Sisters chose music as a means of resistance and healing — using their voices to preserve their mother tongue, recount memories and redefine the meaning of “singing their own songs.”

The 2009 self-titled album Nanwang Sisters won Best Vocal Group, Best Indigenous Language Album and Best Album Producer at the 20th Golden Melody Awards, marking a milestone in which Indigenous music was officially recognized by mainstream culture. Subsequent works, including the album Baliwakes and the musical, It’s Been a Long Time Since You Honoured Me, further blended Indigenous memory with the modern stage, reconstructing the life narratives of Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples through the interplay of music and theatre.

The music of the Nanwang Sisters deserves to be heard by the world — not because of who they represent, but because their voices heal the wounds of a generation and allow the world to hear the dignity that Indigenous peoples continue to sing of, even amidst colonization, displacement and neglect. Through their harmonies, “the mountains” become more than just mountains; they are the enduring spirit of a people and a resonance that transcends time and place.

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