Akangjungla
The Musicians Guild (MG) based in Nagaland hosted a spectacular MG Music Awards 2022 bringing artists and musicians of different genre at the North East level for its second edition at Regional Centre of Excellence for Music & Performing Arts (RCEMPA), Jotsoma near the State Capital on Saturday (June 18, 2022). The glamour and standard of the award ceremony definitely made an impression for the image of music industry in Nagaland. However, more than the show, the purpose behind the award is admirable. Advisor of the Musicians Guild, Yanpvuo Kikon, addressing a press conference earlier had informed that the awards will recognize artistes who write and compose original songs. Kikon was quoted in EastMojo saying, “We want to encourage more creative people in the state, who are musically inclined and have the creativity of making original music. So that we can have a repository of our music-not just traditional but also contemporary, spanning across different genres.”
In the recent past, the development of music in Nagaland has been undeniable. With multiple online platforms easily streaming songs and music videos, there has been a visible increase in the number of ‘singers’ and ‘performers.’ While the passion of music has always brought together individuals and likeminded people together to promote and celebrate the talents, there is no denying that the presence of Task Force for Music and Art (TaFMA) under the Government of Nagaland has definitely boosted up the energy in the music circle. The environment is more conducive and encouraging now for people considering a professional career in the field of music.
The conversation and action around ‘being original’ and making original music is a reflection of the direction that Naga musicians and artists are routing to. There was a time roughly during the 1970s to 1990s when music in Nagaland was all about live concerts and doing cover songs. It moved on to doing remake/remix songs. Likewise, the genre factor has never been constant. Every other day, there is the birth of a new genre, artist and song. Today in a world of content surplus, proficiency is a necessity. The word ‘niche’ is the new explanation to prove that one can actually thrive in any profession. Among the Naga musicians today, some of the few musicians who have managed to carve out their own position in the world of music are Tetseo Sister, Nise Meruno, Alobo Naga and Tali Angh. Following their trail are Trance Effect, Moko Koza, Abdon Mech, KL Pamei, Temsu Clover and many more. In the case of these few examples, one thing is common- their art is original. From the home stage to the international platforms, these classes of artists have presented to the world their ingenuity and thus, become the way of introducing themselves to the world through their music. For some it is the element of language, for others it is the melody, lyrics or delivery that attributes to their originality.
In this time of copyright and patent, being original is inevitable. Internet has become an integral part of all human activities and social media has made it even clearer that there is no way of copying, hiding or lifting creative works. Being original is even more important as creating music is more than just putting it across to an audience; it is also about making a living. Therefore, it is of immense importance to build an identity of the creator and his art. This World Music Day (June 21, 2022), the music community of Nagaland can, perhaps make a deliberate choice to create, deliver and support original music and find the courage to be out there in the world sharing songs and messages in the spirit of freedom.
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