33 Qeej NujTxeeg-Tshuab: MoobZooNraug- Neej Yag Hawj

[fjchaos07]

hey i know you

[ntshiabliaj]

Neejyag, koj tsuab tau qeej zoo heev lub sij hawm thaum kuv mloog koj cov qeej ua rau kuv ntsuj plig ya tag kho siab khuam raws koj lub suab qeej, yij mloog yim xav mloog xwb

[MoobZooNraug]

ua tsaug nawb ntshiabliaj....

[Tomlee41]

neejyag...just wanted to drop you a note that i listen to your qeej and kwvtxhiaj a lot. again, i really enjoy the melody of the qeej. it sounds very nice. some of your songs are very new to me and i haven't heard before, especially nkauj su. taboo is part of hmong believe in our culture and certain songs can't be played in the house but i played your songs as loud as i could. i don't believe that it's bad to play in your dwelling. keep posting your new qeej and kwvtxhiaj.

[MoobZooNraug]

Tom,

It is reassuring that these songs are being listened to. And yes, I too believe that these are just songs...and it is perfectly ok to play them as regular "songs." Will continue to post more in the future.

[MrFwmhawj1977]

Neej Yig, my name is Fue Her one of your brothers in wisconsin.......just wondering if u mind sending me a couple of your zaaj qeej noob nw uasi via email.....i know txiv moua and txiv lang them in sac there but i don't think i have met u yet

[MoobZooNraug]

i am not sure how others may feel, but culturally, nothing is against women learning qeej. Personally, women have smaller fingers and most likely better breath, making them more capable of playing the instrument. I would teach it if there are women interested.

[hm0ngpo0ny0u]

To be honest, I've seen women tshuab qeej before at the funeral from a Hmong Merced Organization in California, but it's just the elders and older generation that say and believe that women can't play it. But I'm sure it's just their own ways of seeing it, so I agree with you that women should also go for it instead of just the men. Also, when reciting it into words, the women would definitely sound better because usually they have a better tone of voice.

[MoobZooNraug]

Hmong,

In Laos, sometime in 1960, there were 2 women in Xeev who played the qeej at funerals. Even though it is not a normal thing for women, they can learn it if they want to. there is no taboo in that.

[sea6]

Are Qeej teachers willing to teach women?

[MoobZooNraug]

i am not sure how others may feel, but culturally, nothing is against women learning qeej. Personally, women have smaller fingers and most likely better breath, making them more capable of playing the instrument. I would teach it if there are women interested.

[sea6]

Thank you so much. That gives me hope. I was saddened when researching the qeej history. I found many comments stating that qeej teachers did not teach women. In addition to that, my mother told me that she has never seen a female qeej player. I would like to make some changes in the Hmong community regarding the views of Hmong women.  Thanks for the comment!

[jrockisthebest]

yes they can. My grandma plays qeej but not for funerals.

[HmongBleach]

Your grandma rock!

[1B2a3k4a]

like you qeej nice