Amir Ali and his band; [Performer]

Unknown (Music); [Composer]

Unknown (Music); [Author]

Baittalyi songs

Music

Music (MUS)

Music

Morar hachat khailla ghorkhan (An empty house at the edge of the forest) is a Baittalyi song, performed in the Rohingya camps for the RCMC by Rohingya musician Amir Ali.

The term ‘Baitta’ means low tide, and Baittalyi were originally river songs sung by boatmen. They are also used by workers and farmers as a form of motivational, morale boosting tool. They tend to be uplifting and joyous, with a format that involves a headperson (Mazi) singing a chorus and the others repeating it together or saying something affirmative in reply. Baittalyi is also sung in the evenings after work.