We couldn't be more excited about one of the newest additions to the site: 32 Ethnic Minority Poets from China Reading in Their Minority Mother Tongues, a documentary film curated by Ming Di, heading up a filmmaking team that also included Xi Chu, and Sun Amu on behalf of PoetryEastWest—Poetry Across the Oceans. Running just under fifty minutes, this video showcases performances by poets in honor of International Mother Language Day with the first twelve poets recorded in February 2022 and the remaining twenty last month.
The complete roster of poets (along with their ethnicity and province of origin) includes Pan Mei (b. 1987), Buyi from Guizhou; Lan Dingguan (b. 1996), Yao from Guangxi (reading in Zhuang); Shadette Gamarie (b. 1968), Kyrgyz from Xinjiang; Pan Nianying (b. 1963), Dong (Kam) from Guizhou; Li Hui (b. 1978), Dônđäc from Shanghai; Na Sa (b. 1977), Kham Tibetan from Qinghai; Wolfman (Li Chenghan, b. 1965), Naxi from Yunnan; Jibu Riluo (b. 1994), Nuosu Yi from Sichuan; Chakdor Gyal (b. 1985), Amdo Tibetan from Qinghai; Norzin Dolma (b. 1999), Amdo Tibetan from Sichuan; Pan Liwen (b. 1975), Shui from Guizhou; He Fukai (b. 1976), Naxi from Yunnan; Solongod Todgerel (b. 1980) Mongolian from Inner Mongolia; Hazhibek Aidarhan (b. 1979) Kazakh from Xinjiang; Yi Wei (Yang Yilong, b. 1971), Bai from Yunnan; Luo Yu (b. 1983), Nasu Yi from Guizhou; Wu Tianwei (b. 1991), Buyi from Guizhou; Mohammedyehya Tusunbaki (b. 2001), Uyghur from Xinjiang; Zhong Xiuhua (b. 1980), ethnic She from Jiangxi; Aku Wuwu (b. 1964), Nuosu Yi from Sichuan; Aliye Rusol (b. 1992), Uyghur from Xinjiang; Sugasela (b. 1976), Nuosu Yi from Sichuan; Tenzin Pelmo (b. 2000), Ü Tibetan from Lhasa, Tibet; Xi Chu (b. 1976), Miao (Hmong) from Guizhou; Chungkyi (b. 1978), Ü Tibetan from Lhasa, Tibet; Samer Darkpa (b. 1989), Amdo Tibetan from Gansu; Turahan Tohuti (1968), Uyghur from Xinjiang; Yungdrung Gyurmè (b. 1985), Tsang Tibetan from Back Tibet; Kongno (1968), Jingpho from Yunnan; Asu Sumur (b. 1962), Xibe from Xinjiang; Anaer (b. 1963), Oirat Mongolian from Xinjiang; and Nie Le (b. 1968), Wa from Yunnan. Translations were provided by Li Hui, Mark Bender, Neil Aitken, Al Lim, Megan Pan (edited by Ilya Kaminsky), and Ming Di. Click here to start watching this compelling representation of the breadth of China's ethnic poetry communities.
