Hadamo

In the remote village of Kongthong, in Northeast India, lives a peaceful matriarchal tribe of Khasi ethnicity, which for centuries has handed down a precious and unique tradition called Jyngwrai Iawbei. According to this fascinating custom, after the labour of childbirth every mother invents a melody, in honour of the clan matriarch, almost a hymn of relief and joy, with which she gives a name to the newborn. This motif accompanies the child throughout his existence, alongside the "conventional" name, and is used not only by the mothers but also by friends and all members of the clan. However, the need to further their studies in other cities leads some young people to leave the village and, with it, inevitably the melody that identifies them, risking the loss of this tradition.