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The popular Tibetan singer Lobsang, who was frequently held and questioned by the Chinese authorities for patriotic and critical music towards Chinese policies, died following a prolonged disease, according to two sources, one in Tibet and one in exile . He was 39 years old.
Lobsang, who became famous at a young age and produced eight albums, died on February 18 from a liver illness in a hospital in the city of Chengdu, in the southwest of Sichuan province in China, the Source du Tibet said, speaking on condition of anonymity for safety for security Reasons.
“Due to the political content in some of his words, he has been summoned several times for interrogation and held by the Chinese authorities,” said the source.
Originally from the County of Kyungchu in the Sichuan province, Lobsang devoted his life to music, released many albums and was suspected of activism by the Chinese government because of the political content of his works, said a source in Exile to RFA.
The authorities prevented the singer from going to Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region and other regions, he said.
“Although he was not imprisoned for long periods, he was frequently interviewed and detained,” said the source.
Social media tributes
After the death of Lobsang, the Tibetans inside Tibet, in exile and through China expressed their sorrow on social networks.
“I grew up listening to her songs since childhood,” wrote a Tibetan. “I am deeply saddened by the death of this singer who cared so deeply about the Tibetan people.”
On his eight albums and in many other recordings, Lobsang sang songs that sounded deeply with the Tibetans, like “Three Camps of Sun and Moon”, who refers to the Dalai Lama with the lyrics, “The King of Snow Land , Tenzin Gyatso, to come to Tibet, that his lotus feet remain stable. »»
His music often tackled the struggle of Tibet, like “the suffering and the happiness of the land of snow”, “World Peace”, “Future of Tibet’s Children”, “Protector” and “Fate of Tibetan”.
Due to his powerful words, the Tibetans inside Tibet called him “Patriotic singer Lobsang”.
Another surfer wrote: “”His song was as warm and familiar as a teacher, accompanied us through countless unforgettable moments. »»
A Tibetan inside Tibet, speaking in a group of WeChat vocal chat, said that Lobsang’s health was fluctuating, sometimes seeming stable, while deteriorating other times, until his death.
Kunchok Tsering, a Tibetan living in India who collects and archive songs and writings of Tibetan artists in Tibet, said that he considered that Lobsang was one of the best singers in the region.
“His songs often praise his holiness the Dalai Lama and reflect love for his country, Tibet, therefore his courage and his lack of fear in creating such music were laudable,” said Tsering.
TSering quoted the song of Lobsang “Nyi-Dha-Kar Sum”, which means “Sun-Star-Moon”, paying homage to the three spiritual leaders of Tibet-The Sun representing His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama, the moon symbolizing the Lama Panchen, and the star representing Karmapa, chief of Karma Kagyu School of 900 years, the Tibetan Buddhism and one of the highest ranks in Tibet religious figures.
“His words are deeply powerful,” he said.
Translated by Tenzin Dickyi for RFA Tibetan. Published by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.