BIO

SAYDYY KUO FEDOROVA

Saydyy Kuo Fedorova (formerly known as Natalia Fedorova) is a Sakha khomusist, ethnomusicologist, artist, and female shaman currently based in Sheffield, UK. She originates from Khangalasskiy uluus and was raised in Taatta uluus, where she learned her mother tongue, the Sakha language, as well as the culture, mythology, and music associated with it. Despite the fact that the majority of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) speaks Russian, she managed to preserve her native language. She graduated from NEFU, formerly known as Yakut State University, as a specialist in Philology. She has given solo performances across the republic and the Russian Federation in various stage settings.

From 2009 to 2011, she was a khomusist and vocalist for the ethno-group Ayarkhaan, where she performed at the Albert Royal Hall, BBC Proms, WOMAD, and SfinksFM. Afterward, she worked as a khomusist for the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) from 2012 to 2013, touring France and South Korea to represent the Russian Federation. In 2014, she released her first solo album, "Aptaakh Khomus," and a music video titled "The Udagan's Dream," which received recognition in khomus communities. She also presented it on national TV in the Republic of Turkiye at "Yeni Gun" of TRTAvaz in January 2015.

Since 2016, she has been involved in the co-running project UDAGANuniverse, which has held concerts across Ireland and the United Kingdom in various stage settings such as INSPIREfest, Trinity College Dublin, ALGOMECH, Algorave, Sensoria Fest, and others.

In 2011, during the VIIth International Khomus Congress in Yakutsk, Saydyy released her first book on teaching khomus, titled "Khomus and moi Mir," accompanied by a CD.

Saydyy gained recognition as a female shaman from other shamanic women who discovered her innate shamanic abilities from birth during the summer solstice celebration in Khangalass uluus in 2011 while she was playing her khomus. The suppression of shamanic practices during the Soviet era played a significant role in the confusion surrounding shamanic abilities among the Sakha people. Following this encounter, she worked extensively in her republic, utilizing her abilities. In 2015, Saydyy released the oracle cards "Oracul of the Universe."

Currently, she is co-running the UDAGANuniverse project in the UK and pursuing a PhD at the University of Sheffield. In addition, she is writing and illustrating a book on "Cosmogonic Mythology" and an oracle deck to share her shamanic knowledge.