Namjilyn Norovbanzad

Namjilyn Norovbanzad (Mongolian: Намжилын Норовбанзад); (1931–2002) was a Mongolian singer of the traditional long song.

Born in southern Dundgovi province of Mongolia, Norovbanzad grew up in a family of herders. She started her working career as a typist at the provincial court in 1952. After winning several local and provincial singing competitions she moved to the capital city Ulaanbaatar to pursue her singing career full-time. In 1990s, her singing helped the world audience to familiarize with and admire the Mongolian long song. Her songs were sampled in Enigma (musical project)'s worldwide hits, the Mongolian chant in the The Child in Us and Age of Loneliness.

Norovbanzad was awarded Ardiyn jujigchin (“National Artist”) merit by the Government of Mongolia in 1999 and was voted the Singer of the Century by the people in 2000. In 1957 she won a gold medal of the World Festival of Youth and Students held in Moscow with 34,000 participants, and the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize in the category "Arts and Culture" in 1993.

Phonography

• Urtiin Duu, Rough Trade Records 1996