Jinuo musician starts business to help alleviate poverty in hometown

As a youth from Jinuo ethnic group, Shache is a popular singer who has made efforts to bring traditional Jinuo culture to more people through creative songs. However, after creating his second Jinuo language album——“Xishuangbanna: My Hometown”, Shache decided to go back to his village and started a business. He wanted to found a tea farmers’ cooperative and help his natives get rid of poverty in the Zhalv Village, Jinuoshan Township, Jinghong City, south Yunnan’s Xishuangbannan Dai Autonomous Prefecture.

“My songs are different from the traditional ones of Jinuo people,” said Shache. He learned from elders and recorded the Jinuo traditional music. Based on this, he made innovations and played modern instruments like guitars and drum sets to present his music, which is more popular among younger generations. But no matter what innovations he has made, the songs still keep the flavor of Jinuo ethic music.

After graduating from junior high school in 1986, Shache was recruited as an actor by the Tourism and Culture Singing and Dancing Troupe, Yunnan Golden Peacock Tour Group. Every day, he staged performances together with his team members in the Wild Elephant Valley and Jinuoshan Scenic Spot.

Ten years ago, Shache started a band for his love of music, and wrote his own songs. Once he got a chance and completed five musical courses in Yunnan Normal University. Then he signed an agreement with Kunming Panghetao Cultural Communication Company. Now, he has created two Jinuo language albums.

“Perhaps I need to learn more in the pursuit of a bigger music dream. Now my life goal is to help my native villagers get rich by taking advantages of my connections established in these years. Meanwhile, living among them is a better way to collect raw materials for my music creation,” said Shache.

Now he enjoys the busy life in the tea plantations. In his spare times, Shache writes songs over tea in the tranquil village.

As the targeted poverty alleviation has been carried out smoothly, Shache’s village is seeing great changes. The economy grows quickly while lush mountains and clear waters are well protected. All of these give him inspirations for music creation.

2018 was the first year when Shache started his own business. As he received more orders this year, he thought it was urgent to set up a tea farmers’ cooperative which can buy tea from local villagers so that they don’t have to worry about the selling.

By Dai Zhenhua

Editor: John Li