Tetseo Sisters - O Rhosi (Traditional) - Official Video (English subs & lyrics)

Commemorating 2 million views on our O Rhosi Dance edit, here is a reboot video of the traditional version of O Rhosi as it appears in our debut album, Chapter One which released in 2011 on December 1 at Hornbill Festival at Kisama.

While the celebrations are virtual this year, anytime is good to reflecton life and celebrate the fact that we are alive and healthy.
Rhosi is fitting in that it reminds us to live beautiful lives. Like the Rhosi flower and inpire others to live better lives. The cosmos add colour to our song too.

O Rhosi.
A call to live, sing and dance.
A song accompanying dancing at festivals.

We are called to come together, to give our best and do our most.
Life rolls out with song and dance, one for every new day.
I am not the best but I will give all of me. I hope the same of you.
With song on our lips, joy on our face and friendship in our heart.
With youth and strength on our side, we can win it yet.
Any battle that comes our way, aren't we called to triumph?
Our song will end but life goes on, year after year.

We sing our "Li" in the Chokri dialect of the Chakhesang Naga tribe of Nagaland and our songs are often accompanied by the age old Naga one stringed instrument, the Tati / Heka Libuh. We are trying to keep the tribal Naga tradition of folk singing alive, and in our songs, we tell the stories of our people, their joys and sorrows, hopes and aspirations.


In Chokri:
Do she mori, do kü da te le
Dü mi ho no, kü pra phi ho he
Kü pra to ri, ne rü khro ho le
Tha tü so hi, ha kü nü tü so
Sho zu kü kre, ulü do kürhü
Zo ba nyi ri, utü vo te le

O Zhali Zhali Hou
O Zhali lohe li a zho

Translated, it says:

Practice makes perfect as we sing this song.
All gathered here, first among equals.
We are called to come together,
To give our best and do our most.
Life rolls out with song and dance,
One for every new day.
I am not the best but I will give all of me.
I hope the same of you.
With song on our lips, joy on our face and friendship in our heart.
With youth and strength on our side, we can win it yet.
Any battle that comes our way,
Aren't we called to triumph?
Our song will end but life goes on,
Year after year.

Have you seen the Rhosi flower?
Come see it bloom.
Live beautiful lives.
Like the Rhosi flower.
Inspiring and colourful.
Bringing joy.

Vocals, Lyrics and Tati : Tetseo Sisters
Rhosi chorus: Traditional
Recording and Audio: MKT
A Li Tsale Production
All rights reserved. Tetseo Sisters. 2020

#TetseoSistersLi #NagaFolk #HornbillFestival