Renowned Chinese singer dies at 76

Dedema, a renowned Chinese singer from the Mongolian ethnic group, passed away at the age of 76 on Nov 28 due to illness, according to the Inner Mongolia Radio and Television Station.

The mezzo-soprano Dedema was born in Alshaa League, Ejine Banner, Inner Mongolia autonomous region in 1947.

In 1960, she joined in Ulan Muqir, which means "red bud" in Mongolian, of her hometown. Ulan Muqir is a name given to traveling performing art troupes that go from one grazing site to another, performing for the herdsmen in remote areas of Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

She received music training at Inner Mongolia Arts University and China Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Besides Ulan Muqir, she also worked with some local art troupes from Inner Mongolia.

In 1978, Dedema rose to fame by performing a Mandarin song titled Grassland My Beautiful Home, which not only won her awards as a singer but also gained a wide popularity among Chinese music lovers.

In 1982, she came to Beijing to work with China Ethnic Song & Dance Ensemble.

In 2017, as the art director and chief planner, she performed with Inner Mongolia Dedema Art Vocational College in a Chinese musical titled Love in Populus. In 2002, she founded the college to train young Chinese singers and dancers, especially the young people living in remote areas of Inner Mongolia.

The singer performed at national galas and abroad, including CCTV Spring Festival Gala - the most-watched TV show in the country.