Yesterday evening in Burnaby, the Consulate General of India in Vancouver hosted an evocative musical evening that bridged nearly 15,000 kilometres between Canada and India. The celebrated Tetseo Sisters, cultural ambassadors from Nagaland, India, took to the stage at the Michael J. Fox Theatre to share their tribal-folk fusion melodies with a Vancouver audience.
The free public concert, which began around 6:00 PM, attracted a diverse crowd eager to experience the signature harmonies and traditional songs of the sisters. The event was part of the Consulate’s cultural outreach to connect Indian diasporas, music lovers, and local communities to the artistic heritage of Nagaland.
The Tetseo Sisters — Mütsevelü (Mercy), Azine (Azi), Kuvelü (Kuku), and Alüne (Lulu) — have long been torchbearers of “Li”, the folk-song tradition of their Chakhesang Naga community. On stage in Vancouver, they fused their ancestral Chokri vocals with subtle contemporary arrangements, weaving between Indigenous Naga chants, English and Hindi covers, and soft harmonies that echoed across the hall.
Several audience members noted goosebumps as the sisters sang, “You could feel the tribal roots across oceans,” one attendee told a local music page. While space was limited, many lined the aisles or stood at the back, eyes fixed on the stage, immersed in the cadence and cultural resonance.
In remarks at the event, representatives from the Consulate expressed pride in bringing such a unique cultural exchange to Vancouver. The sisters’ performance was billed as part of the Consulate’s program to spotlight folk fusion from Northeast India.
For Vancouver, which hosts a vibrant Indian diaspora and growing appreciation for global music, the event marked more than just a concert—it was a moment of cultural dialogue. Many attendees left with new curiosity about Naga music, language, and the rich traditions of India’s northeast.
