The master Pena Khongba (musician), Oja Kangembam Mangi plays the ritual morning invocations of Lai Haraoba known formally as Yakeiba and more popularly as Yakairol. One of the great values of these recording are their capture in their actual setting at the Manipur ritual festival of Lai Haraoba. These song of praise are played to wake the Deities, know as the Lai from sleep. Oja Mangi was 90 years old when these recordings were made at the Heibonpokpi Lai Haraoba, West Imphal, Manipur (2014). The Heibongpokpi Haraoba could be considered Oja Mangi’s home Haraoba as he was born less than one kilometer away in the hamlet of Lamsang. These recordings consist of eight songs played over five days and comprise over two hours of recorded music.
Pena and vocals by, Oja Khangembam Mangi Singh.
(Recorded and edited by Byron Aihara for Seven Sisters Music, at Heibongpokpi, West Imphal, Manipur. Copyright Byron Aihara and Oja Kangembam Mangi Singh. Special thank you extended to Laihui, the Heibongpokpi Lai Haraoba organizing committee, Pena Rajen, and Mahesh H.
Presented with the permission of Oja Kangembam Mangi.
song 02a: Song type: Shei Hou #2, Oja Mangi, Album: Yakeiba (Yakairol), Morning Invocations.
song 02b Song type: Yakairol #1, Oja Mangi, Album: Yakeiba (Yakairol), Morning Invocations.
02c: Song type: Phamang Thougal, Oja Mangi, Album: Yakeiba (Yakairol), Morning Invocations.
03a: Song type: Shei Hou #1 Oja Mangi, Album: Yakeiba (Yakairol), Morning Invocations.
Song 03b: Song type: Maikai Taiba in Kalen Shei Shak, Oja Mangi, Album: Yakeiba (Yakairol), Morning Invocations.
Song 03c Song type: Yakairol #2, Oja Mangi, Album: Yakeiba (Yakairol), Morning Invocations.
song:05a: Song type: Shei Hou #3, Oja Mangi, Album: Yakeiba (Yakairol), Morning Invocations.
Song 05b: Song type: Yakairol #3, Oja Mangi, Album: Yakeiba (Yakairol), Morning Invocations.
Song 05c: Song type: Part 1 of the Mikon Thagongba, Yakairol for the last day of Lai Haraoba. Album: Yakeiba (Yakairol), Morning Invocations.