“It's the first song I've written in Cherokee, so that was an interesting experience,” Nofire says. He considers this to be his first “real” musical venture.Ī graduate of the Cherokee Language Master Apprentice Program and an employee at the Cherokee Immersion School, Nofire enjoyed the experience of writing lyrics in the language. Photograph by Josiah JonesĪ fan of the genre since childhood, Nofire is a comedian who regularly incorporates original hip-hop parodies in his standup routine. The compilation album celebrates the Cherokee language and is proof that the Cherokee culture continues to thrive and adapt. Zebediah Nofire performs at the debut of album ᎠᏅᏛᏁᎵᏍᎩ, featuring original contemporary music performed in the Cherokee language. Lillian Charles (IIA), an eighth-grader at Tulsa’s Carver Middle School and the daughter of the album’s producer, Jeremy Charles, contributed the Goth-pop song, “Circus,” a song she originally wrote in English when she was 12 years old. More information about the artists may be found at /cherokee. Slated to launch in conjunction with the 2022 Cherokee National Holiday over Labor Day weekend, ᎠᏅᏛᏁᎵᏍᎩ will feature 12 Cherokee emerging and seasoned artists ranging in age from 14 to 50 years. “Most importantly, we’re hoping this album is an inspiration to Cherokee language learners that will lead to more Contemporary music being made in the future.” “This music will shine a spotlight on Cherokee artists and speakers, and increase exposure to our culture and language on a worldwide scale,” Charles said. 'This music will shine a spotlight on Cherokee artists and speakers, and increase exposure to our culture and language on a worldwide scale.' The album will be distributed by Horton Records, a non-profit 501c-3 dedicated to providing support and tools for Tulsa-area musicians to broaden their reach, and funding was provided by the Zarrow Families Foundation Commemoration Fund.

ᎠᏅᏛᏁᎵᏍᎩ, which translates to performers in English, is being led by citizens as part of a wide-ranging commitment to preserve and expand the Cherokee language. The debut album, titled ᎠᏅᏛᏁᎵᏍᎩ (Anvdvnelisgi, pronounced Ah Nuh Duh Nay Lees Gi), represents diverse contemporary genres, including Folk/Americana, Country, Pop, Reggae, Heavy Metal, and Hip-Hop.

Jeremy Charles speaks at the debut of album ᎠᏅᏛᏁᎵᏍᎩ, featuring original contemporary music performed in the Cherokee language.

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