Seen here are musicians performing during the "We Care III" musical event organised by the Ao Students' Conference at Imkongmeren Sports Complex on Friday, November 4, 2011. The event was organised as a fund rise for Ao Milen, the first vernacular newspaper in the north-east.
Mokokchung being the land of fashion might be a doubtful claim, but surely it is a land of music and musicians, as talented local artists took the stage on November 4, 2011 night and entertained a nearly five thousand audience till 10pm at the ‘We Care III – Autumn Musicale.’ The event was held at the Imkongmeren Sports Complex organized by the Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM).
The programme had Nagaland Home Minister Imkong L Imchen as chief guest and a host of other dignitaries taking seats in the front, was a huge success. The main objective of the concert was to raise funds for the oldest vernacular newspaper in northeast Ao Milen. The funds were to be garnered through sale of concert tickets and a raffle.
After the formal programme which included a speech from the chief guest, who is also a former AKM president, and a word of gratitude and challenge from the convener of the Ao Milen Management Board, the raffle draw was held.
A tribute to the vernacular Ao Milen, which started publication in the year 1932 by AKM pioneers, was also sung at the formal programme. The concert started with a bang - literally. Firecrackers announced it.
Arsashi Ozukum, a young singing talents in Mokokchung started the concert with an original ‘Mokokchung’ – a tribute to Mokokchung district. Then, young Arenchenla Walling from Kohima took the stage and sang two songs – an Ao song and the other, the Bangles’ hit song ‘What’s Up.’
Those in the audience feeling a bit tipsy and wanting to sing along with the singers may have felt been a bit disappointed when A2S Vocal Band (a group of three brothers) took the stage and sang a song dedicated to their deceased sister. It was more of a solemn moment. But music lovers surely relished the song of the A2S Vocal Band. Then Shilubenla with GIRLS, an all-female group formed in 2011 and winner of the quartet competition at the 24th NSF general conference took the stage. Their first song – an English Gospel number, was a slow and somber song one usually hears inside a church. Despite the perfect harmony of their voices, some shouts from the crowds ‘Halleluiah, halleluiah’ surely indicated boredom. Their next song was much livelier.
Then Bendangsangba, front-man of the boys band Enchanters took stage and sang two songs. Bendang Imchen of Dimapur was next, followed by local singing sensation Arsashi (winner of best vocalist in the recent Rockaware contest at Dimapur) then also Rongsenyangla, another popular singer in the town.
However, the centrestage was taken by Tiameren from Kohima, whose satirical songs are a great hit among the people. As he sang his first original song ‘Molumi Nu Meyong’, the audience sang along with him. The audience wanted more from Tiameren, who obliged and sang two more songs.
Before the house band took stage, artistes of the night presented a group song titled ‘Mokokchung’ which is said to be composed by Tiameren. As the host for the evening Tutu A Jamir handed over the stage to the house band ‘After 9’ the audience braced themselves for some hard rock. With locally renowned singer Matang with his powerful vocals, accompanied by well-known musicians, the After 9 band promised some good music, and they did not disappoint the audience. Firecrackers lit up the cold November night as the house band started their first song. It was only after 10 PM that the audience slowly streamed out of the venue.
With a successful ‘We Care III – Autumn Musicale’ the AKM has once again proved that it can successfully organize any kind of events be it entertainment programmes or conferences. Many commended the organizational skills of the AKM, especially with regard to security and audience management and other logistics. Some also commented on the discipline of the audience, who turned out in large numbers. And with the We Care III – Autumn Musicale, the festive season has arrived in Mokokchung and will continue till the first week of January, as it is every year in this picturesque town.
(The Morung Express)
The programme had Nagaland Home Minister Imkong L Imchen as chief guest and a host of other dignitaries taking seats in the front, was a huge success. The main objective of the concert was to raise funds for the oldest vernacular newspaper in northeast Ao Milen. The funds were to be garnered through sale of concert tickets and a raffle.
After the formal programme which included a speech from the chief guest, who is also a former AKM president, and a word of gratitude and challenge from the convener of the Ao Milen Management Board, the raffle draw was held.
A tribute to the vernacular Ao Milen, which started publication in the year 1932 by AKM pioneers, was also sung at the formal programme. The concert started with a bang - literally. Firecrackers announced it.
Arsashi Ozukum, a young singing talents in Mokokchung started the concert with an original ‘Mokokchung’ – a tribute to Mokokchung district. Then, young Arenchenla Walling from Kohima took the stage and sang two songs – an Ao song and the other, the Bangles’ hit song ‘What’s Up.’
Those in the audience feeling a bit tipsy and wanting to sing along with the singers may have felt been a bit disappointed when A2S Vocal Band (a group of three brothers) took the stage and sang a song dedicated to their deceased sister. It was more of a solemn moment. But music lovers surely relished the song of the A2S Vocal Band. Then Shilubenla with GIRLS, an all-female group formed in 2011 and winner of the quartet competition at the 24th NSF general conference took the stage. Their first song – an English Gospel number, was a slow and somber song one usually hears inside a church. Despite the perfect harmony of their voices, some shouts from the crowds ‘Halleluiah, halleluiah’ surely indicated boredom. Their next song was much livelier.
Then Bendangsangba, front-man of the boys band Enchanters took stage and sang two songs. Bendang Imchen of Dimapur was next, followed by local singing sensation Arsashi (winner of best vocalist in the recent Rockaware contest at Dimapur) then also Rongsenyangla, another popular singer in the town.
However, the centrestage was taken by Tiameren from Kohima, whose satirical songs are a great hit among the people. As he sang his first original song ‘Molumi Nu Meyong’, the audience sang along with him. The audience wanted more from Tiameren, who obliged and sang two more songs.
Before the house band took stage, artistes of the night presented a group song titled ‘Mokokchung’ which is said to be composed by Tiameren. As the host for the evening Tutu A Jamir handed over the stage to the house band ‘After 9’ the audience braced themselves for some hard rock. With locally renowned singer Matang with his powerful vocals, accompanied by well-known musicians, the After 9 band promised some good music, and they did not disappoint the audience. Firecrackers lit up the cold November night as the house band started their first song. It was only after 10 PM that the audience slowly streamed out of the venue.
With a successful ‘We Care III – Autumn Musicale’ the AKM has once again proved that it can successfully organize any kind of events be it entertainment programmes or conferences. Many commended the organizational skills of the AKM, especially with regard to security and audience management and other logistics. Some also commented on the discipline of the audience, who turned out in large numbers. And with the We Care III – Autumn Musicale, the festive season has arrived in Mokokchung and will continue till the first week of January, as it is every year in this picturesque town.
(The Morung Express)
