ABSTRACT
Traditionally, Nepali folk songs often reflect the social and cultural context of communities, including their memories, values, resistance, and struggles through different elements of music. This research analyzes Nepali folk songs as a tool for marginalized communities to express themselves subalternally. The qualitative analysis of 20 folk songs and interviews with 12 artists was conducted, where three dominant themes of expression: economic oppression (65% of songs), caste discrimination (45%), and gendered resistance (55%). The study found that folk songs act as counter-histories, preserving excluded narratives, and as contemporary platforms for social critique, while facing threats from commercialization. The study contributes to postcolonial and ethnomusicological scholarship by demonstrating how oral traditions enable subaltern communities to challenge dominant power structures. It is recommended that community-based preservation initiatives be implemented to protect these rich cultural forms, and the education curriculum integrates this vital musical knowledge.
