'''''Oi Nitom''''' (Mising: ''Oi: Nitom''; Assamese: ''ঐনিতম'') is a traditional music form of the Mising community of Assam. The Mising tribes consider this type of song as a folk song.
== Characterization == thumb|Missing Oinitam Song By Rahul Narah. Oi Nitom can be characterized as songs of love.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Kuli|first=|title=Folk Literature of the Mishing|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|page=87}}</ref> The term ''Oi Nitom'' literally means "song of the dear one" in the Mising language.<ref>[http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/28094/11/11_chapter%202.pdf Page No. 67]</ref> They are then in some ways similar to Bihu with natural lyricism and picturesque imagery.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/144739/10/10_chapter%204.pdf|title=Info|website=shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in|format=PDF}}</ref>
An example:<ref>{{Cite book|title=Mising Folk Song|last=Dutta|first=Birendranath|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|page=148}}</ref><blockquote>''Longé: miksi dínamdém''
''Apongépé tí:langka''
''Yumé miksi dénamdém''
''Kerasinpé romlangka''</blockquote>
== In the Mishing community == The Mising people have several forms of folk songs, such as Abang, Kabang, Birig, Lupo and Oi Nitom.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Padun|first=Nahendra|title=Mising Loko Geet|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|page=47}}</ref> However, the form of Oi Nitom has gained exceptional prominence and attention compared to other forms of Mising folk music.<ref name=":0" />
Another way of classifying Mising folk songs is as Religious Abang, Oi Nitom, Kaban, Ko-ni-nam and Moman, where Oi Nitoms are songs of love, Kaban are songs of lamentation and Ko-ni-nam are lullabies.<ref name=":1" /> Oi Nitom has slowly replaced Kaban, which used to be the prominent form of folk music among the Mising.<ref name=":0" />
The Mising people dance to the tune of Oi Nitom in festivals like Ali Aye Ligang.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/1809_PART_B_DCHB_DHEMAJI.pdf|title=Census data|date=2011|website=censusindia.gov.in|format=PDF}}</ref>
== References == <references />
Category:Music of Assam Category:Mising people