We first met Manga in 2010, when we had gone to Ramsar village in Barmer, Rajasthan, to record Rukma Bai — the 1st female Manganiyar singer to perform in public.
She crawled out of her hut (she had polio in both her legs and was widowed at an early age) and then called out, “Mangia”, her neighbour, to accompany her on the harmonium.
It was late evening and we recorded three songs (released later in the album, Banko Ghodo) and as we were packing up, Manga told us he also sings and asked if we would record him.
We said sure, “Just come and sing into the two mics”. He did, and when he started to sing we were blown away with his voice and style of singing. That evening we recorded our first two songs with Manga — Challa Challa and Pir Jalani (the latter was redone and performed on Coke Studio and released by them).
We were so impressed with the quality and range of his voice that we decided it needs a band. A year later Manga and his band made their debut at Amarrass Desert Music Festival 2011, at Delhi’s Siri Fort, with musicians from the Thar deserts and Africa (Vieux Farka Toure, Madou Diabate). It was only on Day 2 of the festival that we finalised the band’s name and Barmer Boys were introduced to the world.
The rest, as they say, is history. Barmer Boys became global ambassadors of Rajasthani contemporary folk music.
Their first video, Raichand, was made by journalist friends, Daniel Berehulak from New York Times, Kevin Frayer (the AP’s photo editor) and edited by Anna Barry-Jester, also from New York Times.
Barmer Boys went on to play at Coke Studio, NH7, Winnipeg Folk Festival in Canada, Clockenflap in Hong Kong, Music Meeting in The Netherlands, OFFest in Macedonia, Prague’s Respect Festival, FMM Sines in Portugal, Festival de la Citè in Lassaune, Switzerland, Ziro Music Festival in Arunachal Pradesh, WOMAD, Ancient Trance Festival in Germany, in Berlin, Spain, LMS School concerts in Denmark, went on a US Tour and many more.
Manga couldn’t read or write. His only interests were music, having a drink and sleeping! An amazing character, he was Sufi by heart, always smiling, was full of confidence and always made an effort to connect with his audience and other musicians he jammed/played with.
Manga performed with a host of world-renowned artists, including Khaled, Vieux Farka Tourè, Bombino, BaBa ZuLa, Madou Sidiki Diabatè, Fatoumata Diawara, Estrella Morente and many more.
I couldn’t believe Mangey was gone! It’s way too early and sudden! As I packed for the drive to Barmer to meet his family and for his last rites, I was getting flashbacks of our good times together —the time we met in his village and recorded his first album, to his baffled expression when either pure vegetarian or seafood would be served at shows (he was a meat eater), the days when we practised a new version of the song Pir Jalani for Coke Studios on the terrace of my house, and, almost unbearable, his loud “Zordaar!” whenever he loved something. That voice, that smile will remain in my heart forever.
Ashutosh Sharma is the co- founder of the Delhi-based Amarrass Records, Amarrass Society for Performing Arts and Barmer Boys
