Nepal officially recognises 60 Indigenous nationalities as ‘Adivasi-Janajati’, which make up more than a third of the country’s total population. The wide range of distinct cultures, languages and histories of Nepal’s Indigenous people form the basis of the TAMBA project, which takes its name from the Tambas – experts in ritual and the oral retelling of traditional history, who perform songs relating to creation, cosmology and genealogy. These tales are often recounted in important ceremonies, with each sacred retelling accompanied by the rhythms of the circular Damphu drum.

TAMBA brings together Adivasi-Janajati artists, writers, poets, researchers and activists in a project rooted in an intersectional history-making of Adivasi-Janajati peoples in Nepal and surrounding regions, and speaks of and against oppression, nation-states and borders through a process grounded in Indigenous ontology and epistemology. It includes artists Lavkant Chaudhary, Indu Tharu, Mekh Limbu Yakthung, Jagdish Moktan, Subas Tamang, Keepa Maskey, and Alyen Leeachum Foning from across the border with India. While celebrating the rich cultural practices, knowledge systems and shared connections within and across these communities today, TAMBA also delves into complex historical and political landscapes. These include stories and memories of oppression and struggles for land and human rights, the experience of migration and forced labour, as well as resistance and activism, in particular through Nepal’s decade-long People’s War (1996–2006). Together, TAMBA recognises the rich cultural and community contexts of the region and celebrates resilience and connection.

Co-curated by Hit Man Gurung and Sheelasha Rajbhandari