Fourth Asia Music Summit begins in Kohima

February 2, 2024 17 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Kohima | February 2

For the first time in a country of 1.4 billion people, the 4th Asia Music Summit, bringing together leaders in culture, artists, thinkers, performers collaborators, promoters, musicians, festival directors, and producers opened to a grand start on Thursday evening at the Capital Cultural Hall, Kohima.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the three-day Summit, Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio remarked that, “music and the arts have always been a way of life for the Naga people since time immemorial and played a central role in all our activities.”

As such, he said, stories have been passed down from one generation to another through songs, tradition that continues till today. Stating that it has been a unifying force for the Nagas, he also underscored that, “it has now emerged as one of our most positive ambassadors to the global community.”

Pointing out that the present government has been making sincere efforts in promoting music and the arts, he stated that, “after declaring ‘music as an industry’ within the State, we have taken it as our mission to carefully nurture creativity from an early age, carefully allow it to grow and blossom, and then harness it as a collective mission towards societal transformation and creation of opportunities.”

Towards this end, he stated that today Naga musicians and artists have become national and global ambassadors, and through their talents ‘Brand Nagaland’ and ‘Naga Soft Power’ are being promoted.

Exuding hope that they will all learn more from each other in the course of the next two days, he emphasized that, “most importantly, we must use the opportunities of networking to create prospects for musicians across the continent.”

Further stating that “Music and the arts gives every person an avenue to blossom and exemplifies the flowering of the human spirit, and makes humanity more beautiful,” he hoped that the Summit will achieve these aspirations and more.

Rio also congratulated TaFMA and MusiConnect for the incredible partnership while stating hope that with the start of the Summit, their bonds will grow stronger as they endeavour to promote music and musicians of the state, country and the continent.

Founder & President, MusiConnect Asia, Asia Music Summit, Kaushik Dutta said it was an honour to co-host the fourth edition of the Asia Music Summit with the Government of Nagaland while stating belief that the initiative will be of paramount importance for the global music industry.

He also highlighted that the Asia Music Summit is a flagship project of MusiConnect Asia with one of its prime objectives “to ensure that music of Asia finds wider appreciation and audience-listenership and viewership- an effort to unveil the fascinating character of music of Asia.”

He further expressed in his message that during these 3 days, artists from far and wide will make Nagaland’s historic state a hotbed of music and creativity. “International delegates from 15 countries will illumine the event and impact their expertise to the young visiting artists,” he said.

In his closing remarks, Abu Metha, Advisor to Chief Minister & Chairman, IDAN, said that, “we shall use the message of music, art and entertainment to spread the message of peace, oneness and unity” while describing music as universal language.

Theja Meru, Chairman for Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA) observed that with so much interest generated for the first of its kind summit in the state, “Nagaland is truly becoming the nation’s music capital.” He also expressed confidence that it will have huge impact on the future landscape of music ecosystem in Nagaland and further urged the musicians to take full advantage to further their music career.

The opening ceremony also featured “Nagaland Collective” and “Colors of Nagaland.”