Indigenous Ways of Listening: Exploring Irula Traditional Music and Sounds of the Forest

Irula Arts is the result of a collaboration between Oberlin Shansi and Keystone Foundation, an NGO in South India.This presentation will highlight the Irula people’s deep connection to their cultural identity and natural environment. It will cover the community’s forest associations, seasonal changes, language, and emotional journeys through sound. The presentation will focus on traditional instruments, rhythms, and nature-inspired music, from bamboo flutes to handmade drums. This program will showcase Irula relationships with the land, nature, and spirituality through live music demonstrations and multimedia recordings. Experience how these musical traditions have been passed down through generations and adapted to modern influences while preserving their cultural significance.

First 30 attendees will recieve a free cookie from The Cat and the Cream. Pizza lunch will be available.