While Gen-Z largely embraces pop, rap, and rock, 21-year-old Ibsal Sanjyal from Kalikot stands out as an exception. In a short span of time, Sanjyal has made a significant contribution to preserving and promoting Deuda music, a traditional genre from the Karnali region.
Inspired by Sanjyal, many of her peers have also begun taking an interest in Deuda. She has been traveling across the country to promote this musical heritage.
Deuda as an identity
Her performances have gained widespread attention on social media.
“Deuda is our identity—wherever there are Nepalis, there will be Deuda,” says Ibsal Sanjyal.
Beyond Nepal, she has also performed Deuda in India. She shares that she has received love and appreciation from audiences wherever she has performed.
Sanjyal’s passion for performing arts began in childhood. Initially more interested in acting than singing, she decided to give singing a try. As she continued, her growing audience embraced her talent, motivating her further.
So far, she has collaborated with renowned singers such as Raju Pariyar, Milan Lama, Suresh Shahi, and Chattra Shahi. She has acted in over two dozen music videos and has recorded an equal number of songs.
Ibsal Sanjyal, born in 2004, in a lower-middle-class family in Nanikot, Pacha Jharana-6, Kalikot, had a deep passion for acting and dancing from a young age.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, her uncle, Harka Khadyat, a music composer, gave her an opportunity to act in a song called Papi Budhi Ganga.
“At that time, I used to upload videos on TikTok, and they would get good views,” she recalls. “I also used to dance at village fairs. Seeing this, Harka Khadyat offered me a role in a music video.”
From acting to Singing
Afterward, she received several other offers for music videos. During this time, she moved to Dhangadhi to pursue her high school education at Karnali Multiple Campus (KMC).
After completing high school, she returned to Kalikot and collaborated with Khagendra Neupane, where she gained deeper knowledge about music.
While working as an actor in music videos, she gradually developed an interest in singing. During her school days, she often received appreciation for her singing ability and was confident in her vocals.
One of the songs she modeled for, Jhupadi, was originally recorded only in a male version. Later, she came to Kathmandu, and recorded the same song in her own voice. The song became popular.
When she decided to shift her career from acting to singing, her family was concerned.
“At first, my father was angry when I told him about my plan to pursue a career in music,” she recalls. However, she eventually managed to convince her family.
She then moved to Kathmandu, where she consistently received opportunities to perform at various venues, gradually gaining popularity.
Sanjyal also runs a YouTube channel, which has become a significant source of income for her.
Taking Deuda everywhere
Beyond love songs, her music addresses important social issues such as chaupadi, child marriage, and gender discrimination.
Sanjyal believes that music should go hand in hand with tradition and culture. Whether on stage or participating in Deuda Dohori performances, she dresses in attire connected to Karnali’s Khas civilization. Even as new fashion trends emerge in the market, she adorns herself in traditional dhoti-choli.
She has been performing into societies with different languages and cultures. She performed Deuda and Dohori songs even at an event held in Simara, Bara. Despite the influence of Bhojpuri music in the region, the audience listened to and appreciated her Dohori performance.
“We must continue such cultural exchange, and the younger generation involved in the music of our region should also recognize their own identity,” she says to Onlinekhabar.
Through her music, Ibsal Sanjyal is not just entertaining audiences—she is preserving a rich cultural legacy that might otherwise fade with time. Her journey from a small village in Kalikot to national and international stages is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance.
