Navneet Aditya Waiba

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Navneet Aditya Waiba is an Indian Nepali folk singer and the daughter of Hira Devi Waiba, a pioneer of Nepali folk music. She was born in Kurseong, West Bengal, and grew up in a musical family that includes her brother Satya Aditya, who works as a producer and manager. They keep Nepali folk alive by making authentic songs with traditional instruments. Their grandfather, Singh Man Singh Waiba, was also a musical mentor.

Navneet earned a Master of English (MA) from North Bengal University and worked as a senior flight purser for Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong. Satya handles the music production, and the Kutumba band from Kathmandu provides the music for their songs.

After their mother Hira Devi Waiba died in 2011, Navneet and Satya decided to revive and popularise traditional Nepali folk music. They rearranged and re-recorded Hira Devi Waiba’s songs, and in 2015 they selected the most iconic pieces. They released the album Ama Lai Shraddhanjali – Tribute to Mother on 3 November 2017 at the Patan Museum in Kathmandu.

Navneet has said she hopes to inspire younger generations to return to their roots. Many of their songs address women’s issues and social conflicts in Nepali society. All tracks on the album were written by their grandfather, Singh Man Singh Waiba.