Uyghur Pop

From Rock in China Wiki

Uyghur Pop, by Rachel Harris

at IIAS

URL: http://www.iias.nl/iiasn/26/theme/26T3.html

Introduction

The urban sound-space in Xinjiang's regional capital Ürümchi clearly signals the ethnic divide. Taped music delimits ethnic territory. The Uyghur heartland, Erdaoqiao bazaar and the surrounding ramshackle collection of restaurants, shops, and mosques, with its teeming, brightly coloured bustle and air of poverty, is permanently awash with Uyghur pop and folk music. Each shop contributes another stereo system to the din. A cassette recorder is an essential ingredient for clothing shops and small restaurants. Each food stall selling noodles, kebabs, or other local delicacies such as boiled sheep's heads has its own source of music.

---