Myaakufutsu is the language of Miyako Island in Okinawa prefecture, one of the Japanese indigenous and “endangered languages” since UNESCO highlighted the urgency of preserving and documenting those minority and indigenous languages (UNESCO 2003, 2009). There are eight endangered languages nominated in Japan: Ainu (Hokkaido), Hachijo (Tokyo), Amami (Kagoshima prefecture), Kunigami, Okinawa, Miyako, Yaeyama, and Yonaguni (Okinawa Prefecture). The six out of eight endangered languages are from the Ryukyu Islands.
This workshop is organized by a sociolinguistic researcher and two professional singers of traditional Myaakufutsu folk songs. Through music, we aim to convey the experience of Miyako Island in the past. We will weave the history and traditional folk songs of Miyako, which has suffered from the severe poll tax imposed by the government since the 17th century. To survive, the Miyakoan people needed to unite themselves by singing and dancing and endured hardship together to survive.
Being human beings, they also lived their full life: there are many songs of love. These traditional folk songs represent the life of the Miyakoan people: surrounded by the sea and seasonal flowers in the tropical weather, recording the recipe of millet awamori and prayers for the harvest for their better life in songs. We selected some verses from 6 traditional folk songs to illustrate such landscape and indigenous knowledge of Miyako.
In this workshop, we will introduce the brief background history and language of Miyako Island and have two professional singers demonstrate traditional songs. Finally, we will lead all the participants in singing the most well-known traditional song in Miyako Island, “Song for the Harvest,” in Myaakufutsu. This will be followed by a group dance in a circle, “Harimizu nu Kuichaa.” This is an artistic way to experience Myaakufutsu through music.
Acknowledgement: This workshop is sponsored by Linguapax International and JSPS 23K25334.
