This video was taken as part of NGO Pasifika Renaissance’s efforts to document oral heritage of Sapwuahfik Atoll. It depicts a festive day on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, which was celebrated in a traditional manner, by welcoming those visiting Sapwuahfik islanders from the main island of Pohnpei. It includes footage of preparation of food and dance attire, ceremonial procession of a gift float and accompanying chant, and traditional dance on that day as well as recording of a historical song composed to commemorate WWII and a traditional sailing canoe.

Mongols have traditionally shown a great respect for the horse, honoring it in their national standards and symbols (flags and emblems) and in their folk songs. Morin khuur clearly belongs to this symbolic tradition. Morin khuur, so named for the ornamental horse-head carving at the top of its neck, is a unique two-stringed musical instrument developed by the nomadic Mongols. The strings of both the bow and fiddle are made from the hair of a horse’s tail. Most significantly, there is a tradition of playing the morin khuur at all ritual and ceremonial events. No discussion of the morin khuur would be complete without having considered the folk ‘long song’, for which it provides the principal accompaniment. Besides Bii Biylgee and folk long song, many other folk artistic forms such as Ülger (tales), Tuuli (epic), Yörööl (benediction), Magtaal (ode) and others can always be performed with morin khuur.