Torwali
[aka Torwālī, Turvali, Dardu]Classification: Indo-European
·vulnerable
Dubha is the Torwali duet. It is sung by two singers. One leads while the other follows. It is sung in times of communal feasts, communal work such as Hasher etc. Torwali is an endangered language spoken by over 100,000 people in the idyllic valley Swat-Kohistan in the Swat district of Pakistan. Torwali community is said to be the pre-Muslim era community living in Swat. It is of the Darada communities of Swat of ancient times. Like every indigenous language Torwali is threatened of extinction. Not only the language but its culture is also under serious threats posed by globalization and the so called modernity. A local organization Idara Baraye Taleem-o-Taraqi (IBT) or Institute for Education & Development (ibtswat.org) has long since undertaken the preservation, documentation and promotion of the Torwali language and culture. This video song is from a collection of Torwali melodies named "Manjoora"--(gift in Torwali). It is a project of IBT financially supported by the USAID under its Small Grants and Ambassador Fund Program. It is an endeavor to rejuvenate the endangered Torwali music. Your feedback will be appreciated. Please send it to us at the email: ibtswat@gmail.com