Name
Singing through Water: Women’s Informal Music Education in the Haor Wetlands of Bangladesh
Date & Time
Monday, July 27, 2026, 2:20 PM - 2:50 PM
Description
The Haor wetlands are large floodplain depressions that are submerged for almost half the year in northeastern Bangladesh, especially in the districts of Sunamganj, Netrokona, Kishoreganj, and Habiganj. These wetlands, known as Haor, a local term for shallow flood basins resembling saucers, influence the social, cultural, and ecological rhythms of life for about 19 million local people. Areas become individual islands with seasonal flooding, separating communities; it establishes common areas for communication, oral tradition, and generational education.In these Haor villages, music and musical education are closely intertwined with daily life, livelihood, and gendered social norms. Women play a key role in the transmission of music; from an early age, mothers, aunts, and older sisters teach children songs and rhythms informally. Music and other instrumental learning (percussion and rhythmic accompaniment) also happen through participation and imitation in public events, weddings, worship, marketplaces, festivals, and seasonal labour exchanges. The communities are mostly self-sufficient; formal music education is scarce, but a strong system of informal pedagogy endures, guided by regional customs that value musical ability, particularly among women, frequently in connection with marriage and social standing.This study examines how musical practices are shaped by historical migrations, demographic changes, religious identity, and ecological isolation through a socio-anthropological lens. The function of "cultural exchange" is examined through the contributions of songs, stories, and musical styles from migrant workers, seasonal labourers, and visiting traders. Using participant observation, field interviews, and musical analysis, the study looks at how music education is passed down through the generations in the Haor, how gender roles either promote or restrict artistic mobility, and how social structures affect who is considered skilled.This illustration shows how Haor communities integrate gender, ecology, and cultural values to produce a distinctive yet sustainable model of music education within the community. In addition to providing important insights for the global field on maintaining cultural practices in certain ecosystems and combating gendered inequities in informal learning spaces, the study showcases how systemic barriers limit recognition for women artists.
Location Name
513C
Full Address
Palais des Congres - Montréal Convention Centre
1001, Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle
Montreal QC H2Z 1H2
Canada
1001, Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle
Montreal QC H2Z 1H2
Canada
Session Type
Paper Presentation
Presenting Author(s)
JANNATUL FERDOUS