Music of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The music of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a mixture of the indigenous cultures of the islands, as well as more recent cultural influencers from the descendants of the early settlers in the

Instruments#

One instrument played on the Andaman Islands was a sounding board called a pū kuta yem nga. This is a large wooden board in the shape of an oval that is half-buried in the sand while the upper half is supported by a stone. While dancing, some of the dancers’ steps will land on the board to create a rhythm for the dancers.

Dances#

The women of the Gadaba tribe of the Nicobar Islands perform a courting dance.

Recordings#

In 1888, the British naval officer Maurice Vidal Portman recorded Andamanese music and documented it using Western musical notation, which was published in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. Portman’s writings stated that Andamanese songs only had timpani accompaniment.

External links#

Recording and documentation project in traditional music and dance on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by Rolf Killius
Recording of song from the Moken community on Ko Surin from the British Library

Region: India by state or union territory