Mangka Mayanglambam

Mangka Mayanglambam is an Indian Manipuri musical artist, folk singer, dancer, and pena player. She primarily works in the preservation, protection and promotion of traditional Meitei cultural folk and classical music as well as performing arts of in the national and international platforms. Mangka is recognized as one of the few female pena players.

Early life and education

Mangka was born in Imphal, Manipur, into a family of musicians. Her father, Mayanglambam Mangangsana Meitei, is a composer, musician, and founder of the Laihui Ensemble, and a recipient of the Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. Her mother and brother are also involved in the arts.

Her early popularity began with her performance of the song “Hada Samaton” during the 8th Manipur International Polo Tournament in 2014. The song, written and composed by her father, was later broadcast on Doordarshan Imphal for ten days in a row. The performance received wide attention in Manipur and helped her become known as one of the leading young folk singers of the state.

She is one of the few women in Manipur who play the pena, a single-stringed traditional instrument usually played by men. She also teaches the pena to her female students to keep the tradition alive.

India–UK collaboration

She worked with Welsh singer-producer Eadyth Crawford on the song RaRaReHei as part of the Ziro Focus project, a partnership between Ziro Festival of Music (India) and Focus Wales (UK), supported by the British Council’s India/UK Season of Culture. The song was released as an NFT and presented at international festivals including Focus Wales in 2022.

European tour

In April 2023, Mangka went on a tour of Switzerland and France, organized by the MaolKeki Foundation. She performed at multiple venues, including the India Day Event in Riehen, Basel, and the Caveau du Café Littéraire in Saint Louis. Her father, Oja Mangangsana, accompanied her on the tour. The trip included collaborations with Swiss Alphorn player Enrico Lenzin and Franco-German artist Angela Sofia Sterzer.

Awards and recognition

Women’s Achiever Award 2025, presented by the Governor of Assam and organized by FICCI FLO Northeast. Prasar Bharati Doordarshan Annual Award (2017). State Icon Award, Manipur. A Grade Artiste of All India Radio, Imphal. Represented India at ABU Radio Song Festival (2014) in Colombo.

Teaching and mentorship

Mangka teaches Manipuri folk music at the Laihui Performing Space in Imphal. She mentors around 300 students, many of them young girls who learn pena and folk performance under her guidance. She sees her students as her greatest achievement.

She aims to establish an academy for Manipuri folk music and culture to ensure traditional art forms are passed on to future generations.

Legacy In 2017, Mangka Mayanglambam was given the title “Princess of Manipur Folk Music” by Indian media and audiences. The title recognized her growing influence as a young artist who brought traditional Manipuri music to new audiences in India and abroad.

Mangka believes that folk music should be preserved and promoted in every community. She describes balancing sacred traditions with stage performances as a challenge.

As one of the few women breaking gender barriers in Manipuri folk music, she continues to inspire young artists. Mangka considers her mission not only to perform but also to teach and safeguard the cultural identity of Manipur through music.