Kohima, April 24 (MExN): The 11th cultural day of Baptist College, Kohima and Sechü took place under the aegis of the Culture Study Centre with the theme ‘Engaging with indigeneity’ at Ura Academy Hall, Kohima ’on April 23.
The theme speaker was Dr Visier Sanyü, Author and Inaugural Head of the Department of History, Nagaland University; Member, Forum for Naga Reconciliation; and Advisor, Global Naga Forum.
Speaking on indigeneity, Dr Sanyü encouraged the people to know their rights, customs, culture, traditions and its connection with our land and use them to tell our own stories to preserve our identity as a people, as the easiest way to destroy one’s culture is silencing the narrative.
Dr Tsenbeni, Convenor, Culture Study Centre of Baptist College, gave a brief introduction to the history of the formation of Culture Study Centre, its goals and events conducted thus far.
Culture Study’ Centre has engaged in activities that promote age old cultural values in various forms in the cultural day celebrations held every two years. It engagement in folk dances and songs, display of attires and food has been the most common activity.
In addition the centre has organised seminars at the college and national level focusing on dissemination of knowledge on work culture, responsibility towards common property, the impact of foreign culture on Naga culture and balancing tradition and modernity. An important activity in the recent years is the conduct of practical life skills workshops covering areas such as basket making, bamboo crafts, jewellery making, cultural motifs painting and machete sharpening.
Dr Kewepfuzu Lohe, Interim Principal, Baptist College, in his address challenged the students present to let such an occasion like the cultural day be the beginning of change through adoption of culture that are good and desirable.
Two short films revolving around the theme of the stone culture of the Nagas from the series “Five Stones” were screened by the TakeOne Production.
Folk song by the Chakhesang Students and folk dance by the Zeliang students were also presented. The programme was marked by Folk song competition and demonstration of indigenous games and indigenous music by the resource persons, Vipiahu Chücha and team from Khonoma Village.
The winning groups of the Folk song competition were Yimkhiung (First), Sumi (Second) and Khiamniungan (third).
