Abao (musician)
Aljenljeng Tjaluvie | |
|---|---|
| Born | Aljenljeng Tjaluvie August 25, 1981 Taitung County, Taiwan |
| Other names | Abao |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Known for | Singing in Paiwan language; Golden Melody Awards winner |
Aljenljeng Tjaluvie (; born August 25, 1981), widely recognized by her stage name Abao (), is a singer-songwriter from the Indigenous Taiwanese community. Originating from Taitung County, she belongs to the Paiwan people and performs primarily in their native tongue, while also being proficient in both Taiwanese Hokkien and Mandarin.
Abao first appeared on the music scene in 2003 as part of the ensemble Abao & Brandy, securing the Golden Melody Award for Best Vocal Ensemble. Transitioning to a solo career, she launched Vavayan ("Woman") in 2016, an album exclusively featuring songs in Paiwan, which won the Golden Melody Award for Best Aboriginal Language Album in 2017. On October 3, 2020, she achieved multiple accolades at the Golden Melody Awards, receiving honors for Best Aboriginal Language Album and Album of the Year with Kinakaian ("Mother Tongue"), alongside Song of the Year for "Thank You".
Her artistic mission focuses on fostering cultural pride among Taiwan’s indigenous populations by celebrating their languages and heritage, inspired by her personal journey with limited Paiwan language proficiency. She works closely with her mother to refine lyrics and pronunciation. Additionally, Abao established Nanguaq—a record label named after the Paiwan word for "good"—to support indigenous musicians. In 2022, she released her autobiography titled Ari帶著問號往前走 ("ari," meaning "let's go" in Paiwan).