news

shani, a bunun girl from taiwan, has a face full of life and a pair of bright eyes. when i first met her, she had a little smoky makeup and thick lips. what was particularly noticeable was that she was wearing a wild boar tusk necklace, a trophy that symbolizes the mountain ethnic minorities. when she started singing, the air seemed to light up. it turned out that music had already been integrated into her blood.

taiwan's ethnic minority singers, the journey of pursuing their musical dreams

recently, shani was seen rehearsing intensively in the studio of xiamen huiyuan taiwan youth base. she said: "i have loved singing since i was a child, and grew up humming the songs of the bunun people." shani told reporters that when she was 18 or 19 years old, she began to form a band and perform in various places. however, it is difficult to make a name for herself in taiwan's small music market. "music is my favorite, but in taiwan, it is more like a beautiful dream and it is difficult to become a career to make a living."

in 2019, shani, who had a dream of becoming a musician, made a brave decision: to come to the mainland to develop her career. "i know that the mainland has a broader music stage and more opportunities to pursue my dreams." although the epidemic has temporarily disrupted her plans, her love for music will never stop. in 2023, shani set off again, traveling to many places, and finally chose to settle down in xiamen.

"xiamen is like my second home. everything here makes me feel kind and warm." shani said, more importantly, there are many taiwanese friends here who have the same dream of music as her. they support each other and pursue their dreams together, and they are no longer alone.

an original musical masterpiece that sings the soul of bunun culture

speaking of her original work, shani sang a cappella a song called "rainbow bridge". she said that this song carries her thoughts for her hometown and her people, and also expresses her wish to pass on the bunun culture.

"rainbow bridge" originates from the traditional beliefs of the bunun people in taiwan. "in the culture of our ethnic minorities in taiwan, the rainbow bridge connects the world and heaven. the deceased relatives will be waiting for us at the end of the rainbow." shani narrated this beautiful legend, telling us that life and death are not the end, but another form of reunion. she hopes to pass on this precious cultural memory through music.

in order to make the song more accessible to the public, shani skillfully combined the bunun language with popular elements. the lyrics are interspersed with catchy bunun native language, and the melody is full of the charm of modern rhythm. "i also asked my father to help translate a few words of encouragement and blessings in bunun language and incorporate them into the song." shani said that she wanted to use the most beautiful melody and the most sincere emotions to show the cultural essence of taiwan's bunun people.

making friends through songs, voices that cross the strait

after living in the mainland for a long time, shani gradually discovered that many mainland friends knew little about the culture of taiwan's ethnic minorities. "most of them only knew about the amis people in taiwan, and knew very little about other ethnic groups." but she believed that music could bring people closer together. she often taught everyone some bunun greetings, such as "hello" is actually "nigu nisang", and also shared with everyone some of the living habits of taiwan's ethnic minorities.

talking about the future, shani's eyes are full of longing: "i will continue to sing, release albums, start touring, and let more people hear the voice of the mountains." if she has the opportunity in the future, she wants to help the tribes in her hometown develop cultural tourism and let more people appreciate the charm of the bunun people. the power of music is far-reaching, and singing can cross the strait, convey friendship, and listen to each other's voices.

strait herald reporter cheng tingting