Happy 2106th! Another year gone, another Shan New Year celebration on the way

by Naw Liang

Mai soong kha! 

It has been, well, too long. I could get into the excuses/reasons for being away from All about Shan Studies - leaving you confounded, surprised and, ultimately, bored - but I won't. Maybe another time. 

Right now, as the Christmas decorations (or, if you are somewhere less commercial (read: Christian, in some parts) and other festive elements start to take over our senses, I was reminded of another very important event set to take place in about a month's time: Shan New Year. Passed along by the always helpful staff of my alma mater, The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), this email has put me back on the right track. For any Shan enthusiasts in & around London in late November, this is one even that you cannot miss. Hope to see you there.

 

The 2106th 

Tai/Shan New Year 

Celebrations (27 November 2011 at

SOAS, University of London's Brunei Gallery)

The Shan are the predominate ethnic (minority) group throughout the Burma/Myanmar's eastern states (Shan State, Kachin State, Kayah State) and numerous into Yunnan Province (PR China where they are known as the Dai), Northern Thailand (where they are called the Tai Yai) and Assam State (India where they have several names, including Tai-Ahom, Tai-Khamti and Tai-Phake, though this last moniker is unknown to me.

London (and the UK) have been blessed since 2005 when Shan/Tai New Year celebrations were first 'officially' held; they are now an increasingly popular event since they have been held at the University of London from 2006. Arranged not only to celebrate, but to promote Shan culture, the festivities have been led by the The Shan Cultural Association in the United Kingdom (SCA-UK), a dedicated group of people eager to showcase Shan literature and culture. This year, the SCA-UK will once again put on a comprehensive and enticing programme of Shan/Tai culture talks to celebrate the 2106th Shan New Year, including displays and dances/music that should not be missed.

 

Divided into two parts, this year's celebrations combine an academic programme (morning and early afternoon presentations by well-known speakers and researchers on Shan manuscripts, Dr. Kate Crosby (SOAS), Dr Gillian Evison (Oxford) and Dr Andrew Skilton (SOAS/Cambridge) and a performance programme (late afternoon to evening) that features traditional performances, such as the unique Shan traditional Kinnari dance and costumes show.

 

Everyone is cordially invited by the SCA-UK to attend and join in celebrating the 2106th Shan/Tai New Year.

For further information, please contact the following people: 

• Mr Jotika Khur-Yearn (SOAS & SCA-UK) E: jk53@soas.ac.uk M: 0754 062 6667
• Dr Betty Kunjara, (UCL) M: 0779 695 1904
• Mr Sai Seng (SCA-UK) M: 07974689226
• Dr Nang Hnin Nu Nu Kyi, (SCA-UK) M: 0755 796 7976 

Please visit the Shan Cultural Association in the United Kingdom (www.sca-uk.org.uk) or email (

info.scauk@googlemail.com) for details

Until then, jom lii kha, 

Naw Liang