Music & Gender

The music I'm going to share today is about the Taiwanese Female Indigenous Music. 

Taiwanese indigenous music is a rich and vibrant tradition deeply rooted in the island's diverse native cultures, which include 16 officially recognized indigenous groups, each with their own unique musical styles. These traditions, passed down through generations, are often tied to nature, spirituality, and community life. A interesting apsect of these kind of music is that they often linked to rituals, celebrations, and the oral transmission of stories. 

Here's the music of all the 16 indigenous groups singing together on Taiwanese National Day in 2021, the music sounds really great, but say honestly, I don't know what they singing about. 

For example, the "Amis Tribe," one of the largest indigenous groups in Taiwan, singing is a communal activity where both men and women participate. Traditionally, women are often the lead vocalists, especially in ceremonial songs, and handling the drumming or more rhythm-focused aspects of performances are mainly done by men. 

Yet, these gender roles are not absolute. A significant example of breaking these norms is A-Mei (Chang Hui-mei), a pop singer from the "Puyuma tribe." A-Mei's career took her from traditional indigenous music to becoming one of the most successful and popular Mandopop stars in Asia. She combined the indigenous elements with contemporary styles to break through gender barriers in music culture.

Conclusion

Exploring the intersection of music and gender, especially within Taiwanese music culture, I learned that there are more and more artists are pushing against the gender boundaries. They show us that gender should not confine creative expression, in this way, the music world can be richer and more diverse.