Tuvan people

The Tuvans (Tyva), Turkic people of the Sayan mountains, people Tuva, northern Mongolia and Xinjiang's edge. They move felt yurts and birch-bark chums to new pastures with the seasons, as their folk song of Tooruktug Dolgai Tangdym has sung for thousands of years. Nine khoshuun banners, Tozhu, Salchak, Oyunnar, Khemchik and their sisters, divided the nation, the first ruled by Uriankhai Mongol princes, the rest by Borjigin Mongol princes. Throat-singing, khoomei, sygyt and kargyraa, wrestlers, horse racers and shaman-drums order the steppe calendar. Russian, Manchu and Soviet rule layered forts, monasteries and commissars over the banners; Tannu Uriankhai's independence flickered and died. Kyzyl theatres, khoomei schools and the Naadym festival keep the Sayan Turks singing in two voices at once. Tozhu, Salchak and Khemchik banners still muster. Uriankhai and Borjigin princes still lead the festivals. Mongolian and Chinese Tuvans share the songs. Felt yurts still move with every season. Tuvan throat-singers still win every festival.