Imlo ~ Aloboli Kinimi | Sumi love song

Audio: JHC Records
Video: Vila Kiso

Special thanks to : Kairos Restaurant

Imlo: A Heartfelt Song of Love and Longing

Imlo, meaning "My Heart" in the Sumi dialect, is a timeless Sumi song passed down through generations. It captures the aching beauty of love and loss, sung in rememberance of lost lovers in different villages and melodies.

This is an attempt to keep alive the passing melody of Sumi songs with passing shifts in value and culture. Keeping the central theme intact, I have blended in my own style and lyrics, remembering the voices and melody sung by the folks in my village.

This version tells the story of a young Sumi woman in the quiet hills of Nagaland, Her heart stirs with memories of a love that once felt eternal. He, a man of higher status and education, spoke of his love for her but now has chosen another. She remembers his words, how they echoed in her soul, and wonders if he ever truly meant them. Her love for him remains, yet she knows their worlds are too different. Her heart longs to show him its depth, but she knows some loves are destined to bloom and fade, like the unreachable orchid.

The song ends with her quiet acceptance of their separation, but she longs to forget their memories as he goes by. ‘Imlo’ is a poignant expression of love, loss, and the enduring power of the heart.