Vesetsolü Lizo (An ode to Vesetsolü )

--> If you have checked out Vesetsolü Lizo,  the song we recently posted on our page, this is the story behind the song.

Chakhesang girls wearing tiza tida.

The Chakhesang Nagas had this practice of keeping cows in the open jungles to feed. And in the days of headhunting, they sent out the most beautiful maidens as cow herders. The maidens would catch the attention of enemy warriors and bewitched by these beauties, the warriors would refrain from harming them or stealing their cows and keep the peace.

Vesetsolü was one beautiful Chakhesang maiden sent out on such a mission. Her beauty gained so much fame that warriors from far off villages travelled to her village to have a peek at her while she watched over her herd. Many warriors and youths tried to win her affection and wooed her with Lis and gifts. She is said to have finally married the Chieftain of a neighboring village and bore him many brave sons and beautiful daughters.

This song is just one of the many songs about her beauty and goodness.

In the olden days, the Naga concept of feminine beauty seems not too far from the western ideals of curvaceous beauty; Among the Tenyimias at least, clear radiant skin, dark long hair, nimble fingers; strong limbs, good height and healthy physique, a happy disposition and moderate appetite would count as beautiful. Laziness and weakness were frowned upon. There was not too much of an economic divide and there was a healthy sense of belonging, strong community feeling and cooperation. Most Li are about beauty, of nature and people, tales of warriors and war, and of life and love.

A translation of the lyrics of Vesetsolü Lizo is presented here.

Hi yo he……..Hi yo he
(A Li expression or phrase in Chokri Naga)

Nehi mozo……. hi yo ha nu di yo le
(There is none that I desire/love but you!)

Chorus:
Uhi yole …….hi yo lohe liazho
Vesetsolü .…..hi yo vo Vesetsolü
Hi yo he
(Vesetsolü…..A song for you, beloved Vesetsolü)

No hanü lü…..hi yo küvemi nü lü
(You are my beloved, and beloved by all who set eyes on you.
Desired by the bravest of men and envied by the loveliest of maidens.)

Vesetsolü…….hi yo tiza züküve
(Vesetsolü, you are radiant like a glorious “tiza*”,
beautiful to behold, a pride to own and an honorable adornment.)

Sho mo zü mo……..Düda hanü lü
(You are flawless, perfectly formed like none before you and never after you.
You are the embodiment of every virtue and goodness of a woman.)

**Hi yo khama………..Kükre do tele
(Words fail us and so we shall try to sing you another song.
Let’s rest awhile and try another song.)

Chakhesang Tiza

*Tiza is the carnelian beads which makes up the central part of a Tida. Tida is the big necklace worn by the womenfolk of most Naga tribes. It is a broad, heavy and delicate but beautiful piece of jewelry made up of carnelians, agate, ivory, glass beads and a variety of other stones laced together in specific patterns. Each tribe has a different pattern in the beading and can be easily identified.
Traditionally, a Tiza is a girl's prized possession. On attaining puberty, it is gifted to the daughters by their mothers. The number of strands and quality of the Tiza denotes wealth and status.

**Concluding verse is common to most folk songs.
And the same wordings are used in different contexts
and hence, the meaning can be very subjective.

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