Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 3 (EMN): Three Naga musicians were declared ‘Upcoming talented musicians of Nagaland’ for the year 2020 and gifted with musical instruments by the Naga Musicians Collective (NMC) on Friday, at RCEMPA, Jotsoma.
The recipients of the gifts from NMC, a society formed in 2009 by a group of like-minded musicians of the 80s, were Muno Shiu, Imnainla Jamir and Kilang Jamir
Muno Shiu is an artiste from the Khiamniungan Naga tribe residing in Dimapur and has released nine original songs so far on different online platforms. He was also ranked the top five in alternative music of Songdew Acoustic Heroes 2016 and awarded for his original song “Bloody Tuesday” at the 2nd B&K Memorial Award 2020. He is said to be coming up soon with an EP entitled “Out of Darkness”.
Imnainla Jamir from Mokokchung town started playing electric guitar at the age of 12. She hopes to impart what she has learned to others one day, being a music mentor herself.
Kilang Jamir, also from Mokokchung town, was said to have developed involuntary movements from early childhood due to health problem. Despite medical treatments, his condition did not improve much and so he had to discontinue studies. It was also said that he loves playing guitar but could not pursue it as a career as his parents could not support him.
In 2015, his parents sent him to Hill Praise Academy, Dimapur, to undergo training in piano. It was during the training that he started composing his own music and wrote the piece “Broken Mirror” based on his life journey.
“With passion for music and having gone through many obstacles ourselves in the arena of music, NMC strives to lend a helping hand and promote young talented upcoming musicians of Nagaland. This is a humble beginning in pursuing our aims and objectives and NMC is proud to present them and wish them all the best in pursuing the music career,” NMC president Andrew Ngully said.
Theja Meru, advisor of Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA), also encouraged all the musicians to dream together to make Nagaland a centre of music and to see the young musicians in all platforms across the globe.
“The Covid-19 situation has been a rough time in the society but I would like to state that this rough time has not dampened the spirit of the music and arts fraternity of Nagaland,” Meru said. He rather felt that the past months have enabled the people to be creative and come out with bright ideas using the social media.
He further encouraged them to continue what they do best to inspire humanity.