Music has a unique ability to transcend boundaries and bring people together, regardless of their background or language. It touches souls, evokes emotions, and fosters connections that go beyond cultural divides. Throughout history, music has played a crucial role in uniting communities and bridging divides.
A viral video on Instagram showcases an American individual attempting to play a peculiar musical instrument. Upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that the instrument is the ‘gogona,’ a beloved folk instrument in Assam. The gogona is a traditional vibrating bamboo reed instrument, typically played by women in Assam, particularly with the Lahori Gogona variation made from bamboo stalks.
In the video, the musician demonstrates his skills with the gogona. He presents the instrument to the camera before placing it between his lips. Using his thumb, he taps the end of the instrument while blowing through it, producing the distinctive and lively sounds of the gogona.
Since its posting on April 15, the video has amassed over 1.4 million views, along with more than 17,000 likes and numerous comments. One viewer marveled, “he plays the gogona better than me, man,” while another encouraged further exploration of the instrument’s cultural significance.
The gogona is a bamboo instrument with a split end, held between the teeth while the free ends are rhythmically struck with the fingers, creating the vibrant sounds synonymous with Assam’s Bihu music. During festive celebrations, particularly at the onset of Bihu festivities, women often adorn the gogona as a hairpin while dancing to the rhythms of the dhol and pepa.
