Voices of the Ancestors

About Voices of the Ancestors

Folk music podcast transporting you to the Republic of Georgia. Bringing songs and stories from women singers. Hosted by Holly Taylor-Zuntz and Susan Thompson.

Publisher

Holly Taylor-Zuntz and Susan Thompson

Category

music

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Oct 2020

Latest episode

16 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

25 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Mar 2026

   Blessing the Village: Alive Easter with Amer-Imeri

   Blessing the Village - Alive Easter With Amer-Imeri ‘When you listen to these children’s voices I think it’s the reason for happiness.’ - Magda Kevlishvili Join Holly and Susan on an audio adventure to the Georgian village of Khovle with singers from Amer-Imeri and Mtiebi folk ethnographic ensembles https://www.youtube.com/@-amer-imeri3645 https://www.youtube.com/@mtiebi. Walking from house to house, you’ll hear them singing Easter chants and folk songs, and calling out blessings. > -What is ‘Alive Easter’? How Georgians celebrate the Sunday after Orthodox Easter. > -How do you bless a village when no-one's home? Hear the children sing at the gates of each house, whether they open or not. > -Have all the rituals been forgotten? Those that remember, welcome us in with apples, wine, cheese and honey. > Round the makeshift supra tables, we toast the families of the village, singing and dancing to welcome Easter and new birth. > Visit the ancestral home of Tiko Shervashidze, where her grandmother played tsiko-tsiko, and a weather ritual song from the village was collected and recorded. > A singer meets his newly-discovered family member, and we visit his homestead and meet his baby. > Listen out for a special toast: ‘May angels walk in your footsteps.’ > Holly Taylor-Zuntz and Susan Thompson host, with guests Magda Kevlishvili, Tiko Shervashide, Mate Merabishvili and Ione. Audio production by Holly Taylor-Zuntz > Music in this episode: Live recordings from the village sung by Amer-Imeri and Mtiebi: Adghomasa Shensa Hoi Kristi Aghdga Kartli Chona Chona Nai Nai Lazare batono by Lali Koshadze Intro music: Makharia by Ialoni > If you enjoyed this episode, why not buy the creators a coffee? On ko-fi.com/voicesoftheancestors Support the podcast on patreon www.patreon.com/voicesoftheancestors Sign up for our email updates and never miss an episode: eepurl.com/hhgoOf Navigate this episode with the searchable transcript, available here voicesoftheancestors.co.uk/transcripts >> #harmony #Acapella #Folklore #Choir #Storytelling #Circle dance #Folk instrument

2. 

   22 Oct 2025

   Women's Folklore Festivals with Nanina's Maka Khardziani

   “It's a call for me, it’s a call to protect traditions. The Voices of Ancestors aren’t only sounds we heard from the old recordings, it’s all the traditions which our ancestors kept.” Dr. Maka Khardziani —- In this special video episode, you can both see and hear the creative work of Nanina, a women’s group of ethnomusicologists and singers based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Our guest, Dr Maka Khardziani - ethnomusicologist and Director of Nanina - reveals how Georgian women’s voices continue to shape the nation’s musical soul. - Together with hosts Holly Taylor-Zuntz and Susan Thompson, Maka takes us inside the Nanina Women’s Folklore Festivals: how they began, why they focus on women, and how each year’s theme builds on the next: 1st Festival: lullabies and the ancient goddess Nana 2nd Festival: healing songs and the Batonebi ritual circling the church 3rd Festival: women’s labour songs and handicrafts Next year: ritual songs for weddings and the weather - Far from being just concerts, the festivals bring together scholarly papers, video presentations from regional ensembles, and exhibitions of women’s handicrafts. Maka reveals how lullabies form the root language of all Georgian song, and how healing songs once worked as powerful emotional therapy. She also discusses the challenges of reviving women’s work songs that were rarely recorded — and the joy of discovering unknown melodies in old archives. - There’s a touching moment when Maka sings Nanila, a Svan lullaby from her home region of Svaneti. And videographer-singer Ia Andghuladze joins in to share the younger generation’s perspective on carrying these traditions forward through film and music. > In this episode - Lullabies and the ancient goddess Nana - The Batonebi healing ritual and sacred round dance - Women’s labour songs and handicrafts - The multidisciplinary festival: music, film, scholarship, and craft - How younger artists are continuing the work of Nanina ----- 🎧 Hosted by Holly Taylor-Zuntz and Susan Thompson 🎥 Video and audio production by Ia Andghuladze 📍 Guest: Dr Maka Khardziani, Director of Nanina -- >Music Intro: ‘Makharia’, chonguri. From the Ialoni album, 'I fell in love with that sweet voice' Maka: Sings opening phrase of Iavnana Maka: Sings Svan Nana - Nanila Lalkhori sing Lullabies from Svaneti Nanina sing Meskhetian Batonebo >Links - Film about the creative Group Nanina in Georgian with English subtitles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_y8vcWy7_E >If you enjoyed this episode, why not buy the creators a coffee? On ko-fi.com/voicesoftheancestors Support the podcast on patreon www.patreon.com/voicesoftheancestors Sign up for our email updates and never miss an episode: eepurl.com/hhgoOf Navigate this episode with the searchable transcript, available here voicesoftheancestors.co.uk/transcripts

3. 

   22 Feb 2025

   Centuries of Song with Teona Lomsadze: Series 2 Episode 7

   “So I feel Voices of the Ancestors are definitely, somehow, I don't know, kept in Georgian traditional music for me, because it's, it brings me so much energetic, like emotional information and energy er encoded in this music over the centuries, which is just because of our ancestors and their voices.” Dr Teona Lomsadze. > This episode covers a lot of ground, both musically and emotionally. Imagine singing with your family at feasts and the local folk youth club, then Gori Women’s Choir and in church, then being a jazz soloist and leading international workshops, all the while following your academic career, researching and writing. That’s just a taste of the life of Dr Teona Lomsadze. - Are there rules at the Supra table? Teo walks us through her family feasts. > - Can a woman be tamada? Gender dynamics at the supra table > - Is Supra a ritual? The sacred power of wine at the supra table > - What songs are being sung at the protests in Tbilisi? Hear about Teo’s research into folk song and protest, and how those politics are playing out on the streets of Georgia now. > - Can a Christmas carol be a political statement? How the ancient ritual of alilos were revived and are being performed as an act of resistance. > -Can you improvise a folk song? Hear exclusive live recordings of Teo singing in Oxford University with Nana Mzhavanadze, Magda Kevlishvili and Teo’s partner Sandro Shar. > Holly Taylor-Zuntz and Susan Thompson host, with guest Dr Teona Lomsadze. Audio production by Holly Taylor-Zuntz > Music in this episode: Intro: ‘Makharia’, chonguri. From the Ialoni album, 'I fell in love with that sweet voice' Underscore: Teo and friends singing ‘Jer Ar Ikneba Gvian’ ‘Maspindzelsa mkhiarulsa’ sung by Teona Lomsadze, Sandro Shar and Nana Mzchavanadze. Live recording by Geoff Burton Underscore: ‘Tsaiqvanes tamar kali’ sung by Maspindzeli ‘Me var da chemi nabadi', from Imereti sung by Aidio ‘Chona Alilo’ from Imereti sung by Odila ‘Dideba chvens shekreba’ sung by Teona Lomsadze, Sandro Shar and Nana Mzhavanadze. Live recording by Geoff Burton ‘Kirialesa’ sung by Kalta Choir ‘Nainina’ sung by Teona Lomsadze, Sandro Shar and Magda Kevlishvili. Live recording by Geoff Burton. ‘Shavlego’ sung by Mtiebi ‘Khasanbegura’ sung by Kimilia >> If you enjoyed this episode, why not buy the creators a coffee? On ko-fi.com/voicesoftheancestors Support the podcast on patreon www.patreon.com/voicesoftheancestors Sign up for our email updates and never miss an episode: eepurl.com/hhgoOf Navigate this episode with the searchable transcript, available here voicesoftheancestors.co.uk/transcripts >> Links: E-book of Women’s Role in Unesco-Recognised European Traditional Singing Practices, compiled by Teona Lomsadze: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qZaLqiVZWdOCwvG4QjT9KJ0u8lhM2v7a/view?usp=drive_link Independent Georgian news sources in English: oc-media.org/ www.instagram.com/formulaenglish/?hl=en

Who has been a guest on Voices of the Ancestors

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Zoe Perret
• Nino Naneishvili
• Nana Mzchavanadze
• Dr. Teona Lomsadze

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

191,029

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 69 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

74

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

77

Contact Voices of the Ancestors

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.