Oi Nitom (Mising: Oi: Nitom; Assamese: ঐনিতম) is a traditional music form of the Mising community of Assam. The Mising tribes consider this type of song as a folk song.

Characterization

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Oi Nitom can be characterized as songs of love.[1] The term Oi Nitom literally means "song of the dear one" in the Mising language.[2] They are then in some ways similar to Bihu with natural lyricism and picturesque imagery.[3]

An example:[4]

Longé: miksi dínamdém

Apongépé tí:langka

Yumé miksi dénamdém

Kerasinpé romlangka

In the Mishing community

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The Mising people have several forms of folk songs, such as Abang, Kabang, Birig, Lupo and Oi Nitom.[5] However, the form of Oi Nitom has gained exceptional prominence and attention compared to other forms of Mising folk music.[3]

Another way of classifying Mising folk songs is as Religious Abang, Oi Nitom, Kaban, Ko-ni-nam and Moman, where Oi Nitoms are songs of love, Kaban are songs of lamentation and Ko-ni-nam are lullabies.[1] Oi Nitom has slowly replaced Kaban, which used to be the prominent form of folk music among the Mising.[3]

The Mising people dance to the tune of Oi Nitom in festivals like Ali Aye Ligang.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Kuli. Folk Literature of the Mishing. p. 87.
  2. ^ Page No. 67
  3. ^ a b c "Info" (PDF). shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in.
  4. ^ Dutta, Birendranath. Mising Folk Song. p. 148.
  5. ^ Padun, Nahendra. Mising Loko Geet. p. 47.
  6. ^ "Census data" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. 2011.