Koili Devi Mathema (c. 1929–2007) was the first woman lyricist as well singer and composer in the Nepali music industry. She is also referred to as '

Cuckoo Cuckoos are birds in the Cuculidae family, the sole taxon in the order Cuculiformes . The cuckoo family includes the common or European cuckoo, roadrunners, koels, malkohas, couas, coucals and anis. The coucals and anis are sometimes separ ...

bird', a title derived from the meaning of her name 'Koili' in Nepali. It is apt with the description of the Cuckoo bird, known for a melodious and sweet voice. With the help of her aunt, she entered into the palace of Singh Sumsher JBR at the age of 11 years, as a helper. He referred to her as Koili after listening to her melodious voice, after which she became known as Koili Devi, the name that gave her success and fame. She used to sing and dance in the

Singha Durbar Singha Durbar ( ne, सिंहदरवार, lit=Lion's Palace) is a palace in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The palace complex lies in the centre of Kathmandu, to the north of the Babar Mahal and Thapathali Durbar and east of Bhadrak ...

. Around the year 2007 B.S., after the establishment of democracy in the country, she became an independent singer in

Radio Nepal Radio Nepal ( ne, रेडियो नेपाल) is the state-owned Radio broadcasting organisation of Nepal. It was established 2 April 1951. Radio Nepal airs programs on short wave, medium wave (AM broadcasting, AM) and FM broadcasting, FM ...

. She belongs to the first generation of Nepali singers who became professional singers. Her songs have also been used in several movies and dramas across the country.

Personal life

Koili Devi was originally named Radha Basnet, daughter of Nilam Basnet and Rambahadur Basnet in Chisapani Gadi,

Makwanpur District Makwanpur District( ne, मकवानपुर जिल्ला; , a part of Bagmati Province, earlier a part of Narayani Zone, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Hetauda as its district headquarter, as well ...

. Although her name was Radha, she was known as Pantari when she was small, and she used the same name for enrolling in a local school in Makkhan tole in

Kathmandu , pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = Bagmati Prov ...

. Her mother died when she was only one year old. At the age of five she went to Kathmandu with her aunt (father's sister), who also taught her music. With the help of her aunt, she entered into the palace of Singh Sumsher JBR at the age of 11 years as a helper. He referred to her as koili after listening to her melodious voice, after which she became known as Koili Devi, the name that gave her success and fame.

Professional life and awards

She used to sing and dance in the ingha Durbarbut around the year 2007 BS, after the establishment of democracy, she became an independent singer in Radio Nepal where had begun her music career. "Sansarko jhamela lagdacha kya yo mela" was her debut song recorded in 1950. She has lent her voice to over 4,000 songs, including modern and patriotic songs and albums like Sewa and Samarpan. She was awarded with Radio Nepal's Best Musician Award, Subha Rayabhisek Padak, Gorkha Dakshin Bahu V, Chinnalata Music Award, among others. Mathema is also remembered for her lyrics and compositions. She has composed popular songs like "Jahi ra juhi phul mala gansi duwaile launla" and "Jindagi bhari nachuttine gari saino jodaunla". Koili Devi Mathema died in Kathmandu on 21 December 2007, aged 78.

References

External links

* Songs of Koili Devi
Songs of Kolidevi, Bho ma ta aauna paudina
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koili Devi 20th-century Nepalese women singers Nepalese folk singers 2007 deaths 1929 births People from Makwanpur District