Bi Ni & Ble's Story
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Bi Ni and Ble have been singing together their entire lives. Their knowledge of Karen songs has made them frequent performers at Karen festivals and ceremonies. The songs they sing are not merely love songs but songs that contain history, philosophy, and deeply meaningful aspects of Karen ways of life. Hta is the name of the poetry that contains the history, moral guidelines, and the laws of the Karen. Singing requires no instruments but at times can be accompanied with t'nakus, drums, and other instruments.
"A woman is like the shade for people in the house." — Bi Ni & Ble
The Karen have a long history of female empowerment. To an outside observer the gender roles might seem oppressive — women cooking and maintaining the home, men in the fields. However, the Karen are matriarchal — lineage is passed through female Karen. A home belongs to the woman and when she passes away her husband must leave the house.
The Karen diaspora has spread the Karen people around the world.
Bi Ni and Ble both look forward to coming generations of Karen. They understand the necessity of transmitting traditions in order to preserve Karen culture. The Karen diaspora has not only spread the people around the world, but dispersed the traditions as well. They wish to see the younger generations make the choice to not abandon the ways of their people.
"I sing as my mother sang for me. I sing for my children." — Bi Ni & Ble
