Lend your ears to Naga music

The only stage they’ve graced so far has been the paddy fields of Nagaland’s endless and pristine step mountains. But this week, twenty folk singers from Phek village in Naga hinterland will take to the grand platform at the NCPA to entertain Mumbaikars with their pure and untouched music. The group, which includes both men and women, will be performing as part of the NCPA’s Living Traditions festival — an annual event, which aims to highlight and preserve some of the dying traditions and cultures of the country.

This year, the focus of the festival is on Nagaland. Although the two-day festival won’t be able to capture the culture and music of the state in its entirety, it will give the audience a fine taste of what Naga folk music is all about, says Musicologist Dr. Suvarnalatha Rao, who is also the programme director for the festival. “Nagaland is a composite of nearly 16 major tribes, each with its own culture and traditions. Apart from that there are also contemporary sections of the state in places such as Kohima, which have blended with the modern. So naturally, it is not a complete picture of the state, but we have put together a diverse mix by focussing on just one of the major tribes — the Chakesang tribe of eastern Nagaland along with performers such as the Tetseo sisters,” she adds.

Telling us about what the event will offer, Dr Rao says, “The first day will see a cultural presentation from the Chakesang tribe. But in Nagaland, music is not just music, it is a part of life. None of these singers are ‘performers’ as for them singing is a part of their work and living. They mostly sing along to help them in the field, so it is pure and un-tampered. For the second day, we will have a performance from the Tetseo Sisters, who although are a little more modern, bring out the original Naga flavour through their traditional attires and the influence of Li songs in their music. Apart from the music, we have also planned out a number of screenings that will take place throughout the event and will present the audience with a feel of Nagaland.”

About the underlying aim behind this festival, Dr. Rao says, “It makes me very sad as a musicologist that in our country’s urban spaces there are very few people who have been exposed to music from places such as Nagaland or the seven sisters. Without interest, these art forms will disappear. So this is an effort from our side to preserve these aspects of Indian culture.”

Today and Tomorrow, 6.30 pm, At Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point