Governor’s Award 2026 for distinction in the fields of Arts, Music and Literature was conferred on five individuals and groups during a ceremony held at Dr Imkongliba Ao Hall, Lok Bhavan, Kohima
KOHIMA — The Governor’s Award 2026 for distinction in the fields of Arts, Music and Literature was conferred on five individuals and groups during a ceremony held at Dr Imkongliba Ao Hall, Lok Bhavan, Kohima, on Saturday, coinciding with the 80th Independence Day.
Aku Zeliang and Bendang Walling received the awards in Arts, while Divine Connection, Imkonglemba and Joey Woch were honoured in Music.
Addressing the event, Governor of Nagaland Nand Kishore Yadav congratulated the awardees, saying that their achievements reflected years of dedication, creativity, discipline and perseverance, as well as the rich cultural spirit of Nagaland.
He said the Governor’s Award, which was instituted to recognise outstanding contributions in the fields of Arts, Music and Literature, was not merely an occasion to honour excellence but an affirmation of the collective commitment to preserving and carrying forward the State’s cultural heritage.
Art, music and literature are more than forms of creative expression, he observed, describing them as ways through which society remembers its past, understands its present and imagines its future.
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He highlighted the significance of these creative fields in Nagaland, where history and cultural knowledge have traditionally been transmitted through oral traditions, folk songs, indigenous knowledge, customary practices, craftsmanship and storytelling.
Emphasising originality, innovation, impact and cultural relevance as important criteria for the awards, the Governor said creativity should evolve while remaining rooted in the traditions and experiences from which it emerges.
He encouraged artistes to explore new techniques and ideas while drawing inspiration from the state’s landscapes, traditions and lived experiences. He also urged musicians to preserve indigenous musical traditions while experimenting, innovating and collaborating to give traditional melodies new expressions without losing their roots.
He further stressed the need to ensure that modernisation and increasing connectivity among young people do not result in cultural amnesia.
The Governor called for greater collaboration among educational institutions, cultural organisations, artistes, writers, musicians and community organisations to provide young people with more opportunities to engage with literature, music, visual arts and indigenous cultural traditions.
He also advocated greater use of digital technology, including digital archives, online platforms, recordings and translations, to take Nagaland’s creative traditions to audiences across India and the world.
Yadav underscored the importance of preserving indigenous languages and traditional knowledge, stating that the loss of a language also meant the loss of a part of humanity’s cultural diversity.
Speaking on the significance of the awards, he said recognising artistes, musicians and writers affirmed that imagination, harmony, expression, ideas, memory and truth matter to society. He added that the progress of a society should be measured not only through infrastructure and economic indicators but also through the richness of its culture and the strength of its human spirit.
He also noted that Nagaland’s cultural heritage could serve as a bridge between the State and the rest of the country, contributing to the vision of a Viksit Bharat through its music, art, literature and traditions.
He urged the awardees to regard the recognition as an encouragement to reach greater heights and inspire the next generation.
Earlier in the programme, Commissioner and Secretary of Art and Culture Bodeno S. Colo presented an outline of the Governor’s Award which instituted in 2003.
Maintaining that the award holds a special place in the cultural life of Nagaland, he said it serves as an institutional platform to recognise individuals and groups whose sustained dedication and creative contributions in the fields of arts, music and literature merit distinction.
She said the recipients’ works reflected diverse artistic and musical expressions united by a commitment to excellence.
Each awardee received a citation, plaque, shawl and a cash award of INR 5 lakh.