Recording of a music played by Maria and Dimitry during the first death anniversary celebration of late Behon Shilshi at Deering Khu village.

Photograph of Leivon, Kodang, Shilshi, Rengtap and Kangten Khumwor of Leipungtampak village, at the Lamkang Naga Kurchuknao Kunpun Conference at Charangching Khullen village performing dance, as the main drummers representing their village during the performance 2006. The Lamkang traditional Khuung is a drum made of animal skin, wood and cane, used for all rituals, singing and dancing in any Lamkang festivities.

Dancers from various villages were invited to perform during the Lamkang Student Union [Lamkang Kurchuknao Kunpun] seminar. This a special dance called Likhaa Kardaam (The Drumming Dance), where the drumming is different from the other types of dance, a faster drum beat which allows the dancers to take their steps faster. All the dancers are requested to join the dance and they perform the Yaangkaa Kardaam, at Charangching Khullen village.

A man sings Inn ksaa laa, a song about building a house,”lumen cheen neh”, Inmun Ksii o” and “inluu ee.” He mentioned how a dog was killed, then he told it has to be demonstrated by killing and also in some places where they cannot afford to kill a dog they will perform it with eggs.

Elders who are experts in traditional songs and dance, including Beshot Tholung of Thamlapokpi, Bunghon Suungnem of Leingangching, Dilbung Shangwar of Khuibung, and Beshot Khullar of Phaidaam sing a traditional song called “Saa Kraang K’aai Laa", a song sung in celebration when a fierce animal, such as a tiger, is killed.

Beshot Tholung of Thamlapokpi, Bunghon Suungnem of Leingangching, and Belun Sankhil of Phaidaam sing in praise of Puulraang for its beauty and the relations that they had with the Puulraang, a bird whose feather is used as a decorative item during the cultural traditional dances in Totlang Kam festival or any other festivities in the community.

This performance features a group of Elders from various villages who are experts in traditional songs and dance, including Beshot Tholung of Thamlapokpi, Bunghon Suungnem of Leingangching, Shangwar Dilbung of Khuibung, and Beshot Khullar of Phaidaam sing Saa Kraang K'aai Laa. This song is sung in celebration when a fierce animal such as a tiger is killed. A feast is held in celebration and this song is sung on that special occasion. It was believed that only able men can kill a fierce animal, risking their own lives back in the days when there were no guns or other sophisticated ammunition, and only spear and bow and arrows were used to hunt.

Bunghon Suungnem of Leingangching sings three different songs: Phairongsaa, Khungphaai, and Simthlei. He sings about the Haika village, Aibul responded we are populous and we draw our water from streams dry. Raalveen said we are the border and we fought the war against the enemies. Chkhum boasts about their celebrating the Merit Festival called the Totlang Kam. At dawn they sang Var khuu thleng nge,pyu busuk pva busuk ting-tang. Meikhunu hinni’ktlun nuh.

Photograph of Laapu-Singers during the first Seminar on Culture and Origin of the Lamkangs organized by the Lamkang Kurchuknao Kunpun-LKK at Charangching Khullen in 2006, Chandel district, Manipur, India.

Lamkang musical instrument known as Lampe used in any singing. Like a mouth organ, made from bamboo.

Transcription of a discussion about and performance of a traditional Lamkang song. Recorded at Swamy Tholung's. David Peterson and Shobhana Chelliah were invited for lunch. At that event, elders were invited to come in talk for the recorder.

Lamkang Student Union [Lamkang Kurchuknao Kunpun] opens with prayer, followed by a welcome song by two elders Rengkarnung Leivon and Bunghon Suungnem from Leigangching village. Stephen Sankhil, President of the Lamkang Student Union, made the welcome address and presentation.

Elders who are experts in traditional songs and dance, including Beshot Tholung of Thamlapokpi, Bunghon Suungnem of Leingangching, Shangwar Dilbung of Khuibung, and Beshot Khullar of Phaidaam perform the Bamboo Instrument Song [reelruu-laa]. The “Reelruu” is a musical instrument made with a long bamboo and gourd and played for specific dance steps which are performed with this song. This recording was done during Lamkang Student Union [Lamkang Kurchuknao Kunpun] semimar at Charangching village.

This performance features Elders from various villages who are experts in traditional songs, stories and dancers from different villages who are invited to perform at the seminar, including Beshot Thulong of Thamlapokpi, Bunghon Suungnem of Leingangching, Shangwar Dilbung of Khuibung. “Khujin Laa” is the song which is sung at the end of the dancing. The song itself talks about the fall of the dusk and as the birds and animals are heeding to their nests and homes and we humans calling the neighbors to go home from the field.

This performance features young women and men dancers from various villages and elders who are experts in traditional songs, including Beshot Tholung, Bunghon Suungnem, Belun Sankhil, Beshot Khullar, and Shangwar perform "Yaanki Khuungpaar laa", "Puulraang laa", "Laam laa". This dance is performed during the Totlang Kam at nights as the songs and dance are performed only during the nights.

Recording of Reelruh kardaam by Angshel Khular of M.Seljol village. He discusses that it is only the Lamkangs that performed this reelruh dance and the musical instrument called Reelruh is used only by the Lamkang and it's unique to the Lamkangs. This recording is part of the Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research project collection by Sumshot Khular.

A group of men and women singing and dancing to 'Har Khungpaa' and 'Puulraang'.

Men and women dance Chuungnii o Txuiva Mrsaal Le, led by elders Beshot Tholung of Thamlapokpi, Bunghon Suungnem of Leingangching, Belun Sankhil of Phaidaam, and Shangwar Dilbung of Khuibung

Young men and women dancers from various villages and elders who are experts in traditional song including Beshot Tholung, Bunghon Suungnem, Belun Sankhil, Beshot Khullar, and Shangwar Dilbung perform “Umi Reelruu Pukee”, “Raalki song nge” and “ Akhuukjing sumkhuu Kjing”. The group of elders sang these three songs while the dancers performed the dances Reel Ruu Kardaam, and they ended with the Khuujin Laa where the song talks about calling all the neighbors to come home from field as the dusk had set in and the birds and animals have gone in to their nests and homes.

A group of men and women singing and dancing Archung Yunee Thxaaso

Movom Jangvei of Sektaikarong village singing 'Tharon thooe tharon napii napaa o'. This recording was made as part of the Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research work collection by Sumshot Khular.

Elders from various villages who are experts in traditional songs and dance, including Beshot Tholung of Thamlapokpi, Bunghon Suungnem of Leingangching, Shangwar Dilbung of Khuibung, Belun Sankhil of Phaidaam, Shetwor Dilbung of Keithelmanbi, and Beshot Khullar of Phaidaam performing the dance “Tharon Thoe, Tharon napi napao”. In this dance, while the group of dancers are performing, the singers are in two groups as they had to respond to each other in teams which the dancers cannot do while dancing, so the singers are required even if the dancers sing as their voices are not audible and one runs of out breath while dancing.

Suungnem Bunghon of Leingangching and group performed first the dance in Tharon Thoe, then khuu kak’kplap laa, and lastly they perform the “reelruu” dance at the end.

A photograph Laapuu singing traditional songs while the dancers perform the dance at a seminar on Culture and Origin of the Lamkangs. Organized by the Lamkang Kurchuknao Kunpun at Charangching Khullen-Khunkha village in 2006.